Meet the site
Fortescue Bay is a broad, sandy bay inside Tasman National Park, ringed by forest and campsites and sheltered by Cape Hauy. It is the easiest shore diving on the Tasman Peninsula, and it holds one of the few remaining stands of giant kelp on Tasmania's east coast. The Divers Alert Network's Tasmania feature describes the Fortescue Bay kelp forest at about 12 m as the last remaining refugium on the peninsula after a 90-95 per cent loss of these forests, while dive-travel writers describe kelp rising from white sand to heights of up to 15 m. The Marine Life Network guide records Macrocystis columns interspersed with sand and rock patches near the boat ramp in 5-20 m. Swimming among the stipes, with light filtering through the canopy, is the reason to come. The forest shelters Johnston's weedfish, banded stingarees, Australian swellsharks, short-tail stingrays, long-snout boarfish, weedy seadragons and draughtboard sharks, and fur seals sometimes visit. The rocky reefs along both shores add wrasse, leatherjackets, magpie morwong and rock lobster, and the sand is home to rays and flathead. Go Dive Tasmania lists the bay at 3-12 m for all certified divers, noting clear water and abundant fish. The bay has an industrial past – timber milling and a fish works at Canoe Bay operated into the 1970s – and the wreck of the dredge William Pitt, scuttled as a breakwater in 1953, lies in the mouth of Canoe Bay a short walk away. With camping on the beach, Fortescue Bay makes an excellent base for a diving weekend: shore dives at dawn and dusk, and boat dives to the Hippolytes and the Nord from the ramp. Because the kelp is fragile and slow to recover, divers should avoid pulling on stipes and keep fins clear of holdfasts.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Fortescue Bay is recorded as Kelp Forest in Tasman Peninsula. The listed access is shore or 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.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
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 Fortescue Bay suitable for my certification?
The record lists Advanced 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 Fortescue Bay 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 (Macrocystis pyrifera), Johnston's weedfish, banded stingaree, Australian swellshark, short-tail stingray, long-snout boarfish, weedy seadragon, draughtboard shark, wrasse, leatherjackets, magpie morwong, rock lobster, flathead, fur seals
Location
Sheltered bay in Tasman National Park about 10 km east of Port Arthur; shore diving off the boat ramp area and along both shores, with remnant giant kelp.
Facilities nearby
Campground (fees, bookings), toilets, cold showers, gas barbecues, boat ramp, day-use area; no shop or fills – bring everything. Nearest fills at Eaglehawk Dive Centre.
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
dan.orggoldcoastdiveadventures.com.augodivetas.com.aumarinelife.org.auen.wikipedia.orgabc.net.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.