Shark Island is a dangerous reef break about 100 metres off

Cronulla Cronulla is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Boasting numerous surf beaches and swimming spots, the suburb attracts both tourists and Greater Sydney residents. Cronulla is located 26 kilometres south of the Sydney ...

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. It comprises a rock ledge that is fully exposed at low tide. The island is a well-known

bodyboarding Bodyboarding is a water sport in which the surfer rides a bodyboard on the crest, face, and curl of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore. Bodyboarding is also referred to as ''Boogieboarding'' due to the invention of the "Boogie ...

and

surfing Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suitabl ...

location. The wave can stand up fast and violently ("jack up" in surfing jargon), making it difficult and dangerous. The island is regarded by bodyboarders as producing one of the "heaviest" waves in the world. The annual

Shark Island Challenge The Shark Island Challenge (SIC), held near Cronulla, New South Wales, Australia, is the most celebrated World Tour event in bodyboarding since the elimination of the Teahupoo Challenge (Teahupoo) from the world bodyboarding tour. History The ...

bodyboarding contest is held there, as well as the annual

Shark Island Swim Challenge The Cronulla Shark Island Swim Challenge is an annual event of , held at Cronulla Beach Cronulla Beach (sometimes referred to as ''South Cronulla Beach''), is a patrolled beach on Bate Bay, in Cronulla, New South Wales, Australia. The Cronulla P ...

held at

Cronulla Beach Cronulla Beach (sometimes referred to as ''South Cronulla Beach''), is a patrolled beach on Bate Bay, in Cronulla, Cronulla, New South Wales, Australia. The Cronulla Pavilion and the Cronulla Lifesaving Club are two prominent buildings located cl ...

External links

Shark Island surf photographer Chris Dixon
(Fine Shark Island ocean and wave art by Australian ocean photographer Chris Dixon. Stunning interior wall art focused on ocean, waves, beaches, surf and seascape photos.)
Shark Island Swim Challenge
Annual Swim Event held at

Shark Island
(pictures, history and wave description)
2001 footage of the heaviest shark island challenge to date
Bodyboarding Surfing locations in New South Wales Cronulla, New South Wales {{NewSouthWales-geo-stub