Meet the site
Bird Rock off Maria Island (not to be confused with Bird Rock at Bicheno) is an undercut rock with ledges and a cormorant roost, rated 6 out of 10 by the Marine Life Network guide. Depths are only 4-6 m and the rock makes a good anchoring spot.
The ledges shelter banded morwong, leatherjackets and wrasse, with yellow anemones on the rock faces. The guide warns of a shallow reef south of the rock, which is a hazard to boats more than divers.
Bird Rock suits new divers and snorkellers and works well as a relaxed second dive after one of the deeper northern sites such as the North-Eastern Bommie. Keep a respectful distance from roosting cormorants, and do not land on the rock.
Maria Island is a national park with no permanent residents apart from rangers, and the Darlington settlement preserves convict-era buildings from 1825 onwards. The marine reserve along the island's northern and western shores has been no-take since 1991 and has been used for long-term studies of how protection affects rock lobster and fish numbers, so reef life inside it is noticeably richer than outside.
Maria Island's boat sites are rarely visited because there is no operator on the island and the eastern coast is a long way from the Triabunna ramp. Visitors with their own boats should carry oxygen and a radio, check the forecast for Mercury Passage as well as the open coast, and remember that the Royal Hobart Hospital chamber is roughly two hours away by road once back at Triabunna.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Bird Rock (Maria Island) is recorded as Reef in Tasmania East Coast. The listed access is boat (day trip). Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is Bird Rock (Maria Island) suitable for my certification?
The record lists Open Water. That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book Bird Rock (Maria Island) through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Banded morwong, leatherjackets, wrasse, yellow anemones, cormorants
Location
An undercut rock with ledges and a cormorant roost off northern Maria Island, with a shallow reef to its south.
Facilities nearby
Darlington: toilets, showers at the Penitentiary accommodation, campground, ranger station, no shop or air fills. Triabunna: ramp, fuel, supermarket, cafes. Nearest air fills in Hobart.
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
marinelife.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.