Diving in Tasmania
Tasmania offers some of the most diverse and intriguing temperate water diving in the world. A large portion of Tasmania’s coastline is rocky reef, making it perfect for diving. The diversity of Tasmania’s diving caters for all levels of experience, from the beginner diver looking to explore a plethora of colourful sponges, normally only enjoyed in tropical waters, ranging from 10 metres down to 25 metres in depth, to the advanced diver shuffling their way through our shallow water cave systems or descending onto one of the many deep water reefs.
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Weedy seadragon |
The island state’s unique location offers a wide range of marine experiences from southern right whale migrations, regular encounters with dolphins travelling through the D'Entrecasteaux channel, to the chance to witness several species of sharks that tend to congregate around a number of the seal colonies that exist on Tasmania’s south and south-eastern coastline, with Ile des Phoques and Tasman Island among the largest colonies. Divers also can experience close encounters with smaller (and perfectly safe) sharks such as draughtboards and Port Jacksons; sightings of rusty catsharks on the east coast are a regular occurrence.
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The very unusual handfish is just one of the interesting creatures you can see whilst diving in Tasmania. |
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On the east coast of Tasmania, about 50 km north of Coles Bay, the picturesque town of Bicheno is home to the world-renowned Governors Island Marine Reserve. The marine reserve is located less than 150 metres offshore, and contains over 25 individual and unique dives sites, with diving ranging from 8 metre shore dives off Waub’s Bay gazing at weedy seadragons, through to 38 metre diving through the Canyon surrounded by hundreds of schooling fish, and everything in between.
With water temperatures ranging from around 11°C over the winter months, to over 20°C during the peak of summer, you can experience stunning 20 metre drop-offs with sea-whip covered walls, myriad colourful sponges, and an enormous variety of fish life.
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Some colourful nudibranchs (Ceratosoma amoena) laying egg ribbons. |
The many other dive sites around Tasmania include:
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Eaglehawk Peninsula - Cathedral Caves, out of Pirates Bay
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Several shipwrecks around the state including Clarke Island (the Litherland, the Cambridgeshire), Port Arthur (the Nord), Betsy Island wreck graveyard, Maria Island (the Troy D)
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Bicheno - over 25 individual dive sites
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Ile des Phoques - seal colony south of Schouten Island
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Tinderbox Marine Reserve
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Bruny Island
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Tamar River
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Fortescue Bay
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Wedge Island
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Maria Island
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Flinders Island
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Schouten Island
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The Roaring 40s west coast of Tasmania is regarded as one of the most amazing coastlines in the state but recreational diving is not a common activity along the west coast, mainly due to the unpredictability of the weather and the harsh sea conditions.
Links
Click here to view some amazing underwater photographs taken by a local diver during the annual Tasmanian Dive Clubs Combined weekend.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Ben Cashman for the information on diving in Tasmania, and to Emma Flukes for the beautiful photographs.
