Shark Island is a dangerous reef break about 100 metres off the coast of

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 26 kilometres south of the Sydney central ...

, in

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

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

bodyboarding Bodyboarding is a water sports, water sport in which the surfing, 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 in ...

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 suita ...

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, Cronulla, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, is a World Tour (bodyboarding), World Tour event in bodyboarding since the elimination of the Teahupoo Challenge (Teahupoo) from ...

bodyboarding contest is held there, as well as the annual Shark Island Swim Challenge held at

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

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