Meet the site
Boyd's Tower is a sandstone tower built in 1847 on Red Point, the southern headland of Twofold Bay, by the entrepreneur Benjamin Boyd. Intended as a lighthouse, it was never lit and was used instead as a lookout by shore-based whalers, who watched from it for whales and signalled to the boats. It is now a landmark of Beowa National Park.
The reef below Red Point is part of the same coastline as the documented sites nearby: the scuttled tugs Tasman Hauler and Henry Bolte lie just to the south on sand at 25–30 m, and Jacko's Cave at Leatherjacket Point shows the character of the reef – walls, boulders and caves covered in brilliant sponges, sea squirts, gorgonians and lace coral, with nudibranchs, octopus, cuttlefish, eastern blue devilfish and leatherjackets. The red rocks that give the point its name continue underwater as boulders and ledges.
The reef is best seen as an adjunct to the tug dives, and divers visiting the wrecks may be able to spend a dive exploring it. Its history is the draw: humpback whales still pass the point every spring, and the Eden Killer Whale Museum tells the story of whalers working alongside orcas in Twofold Bay. The museum in Eden is worth a visit on any non-diving day.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Boyds Tower Reef is recorded as Reef in Eden & Green Cape. The listed access is boat. 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.
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 Boyds Tower Reef 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 Boyds Tower Reef 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
Expected: sponges, sea squirts, gorgonians, lace coral, nudibranchs, octopus, cuttlefish, eastern blue devilfish, leatherjackets, blue groper, yellowtail
Location
Reef below Boyd's Tower on Red Point, the southern headland of Twofold Bay in Beowa National Park, just north of the scuttled tugs.
Facilities nearby
Quarantine Bay ramp and Snug Cove, Eden; Boyd's Tower lookout and walking tracks onshore.
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
michaelmcfadyenscuba.infomichaelmcfadyenscuba.infonationalparks.nsw.gov.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.