Little Manly Cove is made for slow, gentle, relaxing snorkelling. Your best bet is to start on the outside of the swimming enclosure's western wall and follow it all the way around to the rocks on the eastern side. 

Like the Bronte-Coogee stretch, Cabbage Tree Bay is in an aquatic reserve. It comprises 20 hectares, between Manly Beach's southern end and the northern tip of Shelly Beach Headland. 

This escapade takes you into new territory. Safe within the shelter of Pittwater, you'll discover the alternative universe created by seagrass beds. The star attraction is sea horses, but you'll also cross paths with starfish, cuttlefish and bream.

Like Little Bay (below), Clovelly is a safe, reassuring place to start for inexperienced snorkellers. Unless a storm is brewing at sea, the waters are tranquil and it's easy to get in and out via concrete steps. 

Famous for being the Captain Cook's 1770 landing space, Kurnell is also where you'll find one of the city's busiest underwater communities. For an easy entry point, try Silver Beach, from where you can swim east towards Kamay Botany Bay National Park.

Just north of Kurnell, across the mouth of Botany Bay, lies Bare Island. Arrive on a weekend and you'll be sharing with lots of scuba divers; it's one of the most popular diving sites in not only Sydney but also New South Wales. 

For snorkelling newbies, Little Bay is a treat. Rocky headlands provide excellent protection from the behemoth Pacific, so the water is almost always calm and clear. 

Just north of Little Bay is Malabar Beach, which is home to not one but two shipwrecks. In 1931, the MV Malabar was travelling to Sydney from Singapore when it smashed into the headland. 

Hidden between Clovelly and Coogee Beaches, Gordons Bay is one of the eastern suburbs' prettiest spots. And it's the only snorkelling destination on this list with a dedicated underwater nature trail.

This one's inside yet another aquatic reserve: Long Reef, which covers 76 hectares between Collaroy's rock pools and the Long Reef SLSC. Most of it features rocky shores and wild surf, but lovely, sandy, sheltered Fishermans Beach is an exception. 

Oak Park is one of Sydney's largest marine sites with tons of diverse marine life to ogle in your goggles. It's also a perfect spot to start your journey if you're a bit green — you can just start in the tidal pools to warm up, then move into the sea. 

Ah, Bondi. Australia's most famous beach gets an honourable mention for being its iconic self — and because it has an aptly named spot on its south end: Flat Rock. 

Wattamolla Beach is like something from your most picturesque, lagoon swimming, bushwalking, beach picnicking dreams. If the emerald-clear water isn't enough to get you jumping in the car, then the Royal National Park it lies in will.