Meet the site
Fishermans Haul is a small bay just south of Lucas Point, between Tinderbox and the southern end of the Kingborough coast. The Marine Life Network guide describes it as a shallow snorkel or dive in 2-5 m with a nice kelp garden on Lucas Point and general marine life. Access is the main challenge: from the clifftop car park a steep dirt track descends to the rocks, entry is awkward at high tide or in heavy seas, and the climb back up is hard work with dive gear. Once in the water, the kelp garden offers a pleasant shallow reef with wrasse, leatherjackets, magpie morwong, sea stars and the other common reef species of the channel, with the chance of seahorses and weedy seadragons in the weed. Being close to the Tinderbox Marine Nature Reserve, the area may benefit from the spillover of fish from the no-take zone. The bay is exposed to south-easterly swell, so it is best visited on calm days with westerly winds. For most divers the nearby Tinderbox reserve offers easier access and better facilities; Fishermans Haul is an alternative for those wanting a quieter spot and willing to carry gear down a track. If you do make the effort, plan the dive around a calm, low-to-mid tide window, scout the entry without gear first, and have the fittest member of the group carry the heaviest items back up the track. A mask, snorkel and fins are enough to enjoy the kelp in the shallows, which makes the site a sensible choice for a lightweight snorkel rather than a full scuba dive. The views from the clifftop over the channel to Bruny Island are a bonus.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Fishermans Haul (Lucas Point) is recorded as Shore/Rock Platform in Bruny Island & D'Entrecasteaux Channel. 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.
- 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 Fishermans Haul (Lucas Point) suitable for my certification?
The record lists Snorkel/Any. 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 Fishermans Haul (Lucas Point) 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
Kelp garden, wrasse, leatherjackets, magpie morwong, sea stars, big-belly seahorses, weedy seadragons (possible)
Location
Small bay south of Lucas Point near Tinderbox with a kelp garden on the point, reached by a steep dirt track from a clifftop car park.
Facilities nearby
Clifftop parking only; toilets and fills in Kingston/Blackmans 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
marinelife.org.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.