Why Winter is the Best Time to Freedive
Winter has always been my favourite time to freedive. I learned early on that if you’re willing to brave the chilly winter waters of Sydney, you’ll be rewarded with some of the best conditions and marine interactions you could hope for.
Crystal Clear Clarity
While winter may bring with it a bit of brain freeze, it also boasts the best visibility you will encounter all year. With the cooler temperatures and less hours of sunlight, algae blooms reduce, significantly increasing the clarity of the water. Reduced boat traffic and less suncream lathered swimmers in the water also can’t hurt. As the murk of the Summer months gives way to crystal clear blues, it’s a great time for a bit of underwater photography!
More Interactions with Marine Life
Most marine creatures (bar the labradors of the sea - the Blue Gropers), are notoriously skittish when it comes to interacting with divers, so it makes sense that when there are less people in the water, they are more content and more likely to interact with you. As well as this, winter is mating season for various ocean critters, so it’s the perfect time to witness their unique mating behaviours.
Mating Season
May and June is peak season for Australian Giant Cuttlefish mating. Many cuttlefish migrate to shallower areas in order to lay their eggs inside rock caves, meaning there’s a higher probability of encountering them on your Sydney shore dives. The mating rituals of these otherworldly creatures is really something special, with large males competing for their chance to mate by colour changing and shape shifting. A great spot for witnessing Giant Cuttlefish in all their glory over winter is the protected waters of Cabbage Tree Bay, Manly, where numerous cuttlefish converge in the hope of spreading their seed.
It’s not only cuttlefish that you may have the fortune of seeing during winter, as it’s also mating season for the cutest of all the sharks - the Port Jackson. During the colder months you will see growing numbers of PJs in the shallows along Sydney’s coast, as they lay their unusual spiral shaped eggs amongst the rocks. And if you’re very lucky, you may even get to swim with a teeny baby shark like I did recently!
Humpback Whale Migration
Saving the best ’til last - July is peak season for Humpback Whale spotting as they migrate north to their breeding grounds. You’ve got to be pretty lucky to encounter these guys as they swim fast and generally swim a fair distance from the shore, although they have been known to visit Sydney's bays on the odd occasion. Though you may not often see them on a shore dive, you will most definitely hear them; and I don’t think there is anything better than diving in crystal clear water, surrounded by enchanting whale song.
So hopefully I have persuaded you to heave on your thickest wetsuit and jump into this underwater winter wonderland! If this post has inspired you to try freediving or continue your freediving journey, feel free to reach out!
Another world awaits!
See you in the water soon…