Meet the site
The 50 Great Dives entry for the Governor Island Marine Reserve singles out the wave deflection wall at Bicheno as excellent for snorkelling. The wall forms part of the old harbour works opposite Governor Island, next to the car park used for the Waubs Bay and Fish Rock shore dives, so it is the easiest water in town to get into.
The attraction is the shallow rocky habitat along the wall, where kelp and smaller seaweeds grow on the boulders. The reserve area nearby has been no-take since 1991, and the surrounding shallows attract the same fish seen by divers on the deeper sites: banded morwong, old wives, leatherjackets, wrasse and, in the weed, weedy seadragons. Seals and bottlenose dolphins are occasionally seen in the area, and crested terns nest on Governor Island in summer.
For scuba divers the wall is mainly useful as a place to check weighting, train new divers, or snorkel with non-diving family while others dive the bay. Depths are only 1-6 m, so it is best in calm conditions.
Published information on this site is limited. The exact extent of the wall and whether it is inside the reserve boundary should be checked locally, and snorkellers must stay out of Waubs Gulch, the boat channel between the town and Governor Island, where the Parks and Wildlife Service prohibits swimming because of strong currents and boat traffic. Visitors also need to remember that landing on Governor Island itself is prohibited from 1 August to 31 March to protect the crested tern colony.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Governor Island Wave Deflection Wall is recorded as Shore/Rock Platform in Tasmania East Coast. 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.
- 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 Governor Island Wave Deflection Wall 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 Governor Island Wave Deflection Wall 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, weedy seadragon, banded morwong, old wife, leatherjackets, wrasse, sea stars; occasional Australian fur seal and bottlenose dolphin
Location
Shallow snorkel and training area along the wave deflection wall/breakwater structure at Bicheno's old harbour, opposite Governor Island.
Facilities nearby
Parking at the old harbour/breakwater; public toilets and a hot outdoor shower at the foreshore area near the Gulch; cafes, bakery and supermarket in town. No confirmed air-fill station in Bicheno - bring filled cylinders from Launceston or Hobart.
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
50greatdives.comparks.tas.gov.aumichaelmcfadyenscuba.infoRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.