Meet the site
Cape Hauy is one of the most photographed headlands in Tasmania: a narrow dolerite promontory ending in towering columns, with the slender Candlestick and Totem Pole stacks standing just offshore. Climbers famously rope across to the Totem Pole, and the Cape Hauy walking track brings thousands of people to the clifftop each year. Underwater, the columnar jointing that creates these stacks continues as vertical walls of hexagonal columns dropping to boulders and sand. Kelp and brown algae cover the upper walls, where fur seals often swirl around divers, while deeper faces carry sponges, sea whips and jewel anemones. Banded morwong, boarfish and real bastard trumpeter are common, and rock lobster shelter in the gaps between columns. The site's appeal is as much the setting as the life: looking up from the wall at the stacks and the columns rising out of the water is unforgettable. It is an exposed site where surge between the stacks can be strong, so it suits Advanced divers on calm days. Fortescue Bay ramp is just around the corner, making it an easy target for private boats. Treat depths as indicative – the wall bottoms out between 25 and 40 m depending on the drop point.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Cape Hauy / The Candlestick is recorded as Wall in Tasman Peninsula. 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.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- 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 Cape Hauy / The Candlestick suitable for my certification?
The record lists Deep/Advanced + experience. 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 Cape Hauy / The Candlestick 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
Sea whips, sponges, jewel anemones, kelp, fur seals, butterfly perch, boarfish, banded morwong, real bastard trumpeter, southern rock lobster
Location
Vertical dolerite walls beneath Cape Hauy and its famous sea stacks, the Candlestick and Totem Pole, at the southern side of Fortescue Bay.
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
eaglehawkdive.com.augodivetas.com.aumarinelife.org.auxray-mag.comRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.