Meet the site
The boat ramp cove at Eddystone Point is the easiest dive in the far north-east, rated 5 out of 10 by the Marine Life Network guide as a sheltered cove with a small seaweed garden suited to inexperienced divers. Michael McFadyen dived it in February 2008 and found the bay very shallow - about 2 m for most of its area - deepening to about 10 m offshore, with giant kelp fronds up to a metre wide, extensive weed and green algae, and rocky formations rising to about 3 m below the surface.
He recorded abundant striped morwong (probably banded morwong), swimming anemones, wrasse, seapike, large abalone and schools of salmon and garfish, with 10 m visibility and 17 °C water. His verdict was that it is not a must-do dive, but fine if you are in the area and need a dive. The guide adds leatherjackets, herring cale and kelpies, and warns of poor visibility after rough weather and plankton blooms. Treat the depths, positions and conditions given here as a starting point, and confirm them with local divers and a depth sounder before committing to a dive.
The far north-east corner of Tasmania, from Eddystone Point to Cape Portland and Swan Island, is one of the most remote stretches of the state's coast. Roads north of St Helens and around Gladstone are partly gravel, the nearest shops are at Gladstone, Derby or Bridport, and there are no dive services at all. The Marine Life Network guide, written from the experience of Launceston divers, is still the only detailed published account of most of these sites.
Where Bass Strait meets the Tasman Sea around Cape Portland and the Swan Island group, tidal streams run hard, and the guide repeatedly stresses slack water, safety lines and experienced boat handlers for the wreck sites. The Royal Hobart Hospital chamber is five hours or more away by road, so any diving here should be conservative and planned with an evacuation route in mind.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Eddystone Boat Ramp is recorded as Shore/Rock Platform in Tasmania North-East. The listed access is shore. 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 Eddystone Boat Ramp 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 Eddystone Boat Ramp 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
Giant kelp, banded morwong, swimming anemones, wrasse, seapike, abalone, Australian salmon, garfish, leatherjackets, herring cale, kelpies
Location
A sheltered cove with a small seaweed garden and giant kelp at the Eddystone Point boat ramp beside the lighthouse reserve.
Facilities nearby
Eddystone Point (larapuna, Bay of Fires/wukalina area): lighthouse reserve, campground at Deep Creek, pit toilets; no shops - Gladstone (40 km) has a store and fuel. Nearest air fills Launceston.
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.infomarinelife.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.