Meet the site
Lookout Bluff forms the northern arm of Waterfall Bay, and the reef beneath it is a shallow, intricate dive in 5-9 m. The Marine Life Network site guide identifies two features: The Split, a narrow crevice where the rock has cracked along a joint, and Crossroads, a small cave where several short passages meet. Both are best explored slowly, since the walls of the fissures carry encrusting sponges, jewel anemones and small invertebrates that thrive in the shade, and rock lobsters wedge themselves into the deeper cracks. Around the bluff the reef is typical Tasman Peninsula dolerite covered in brown algae and kelp, with scattered boulders and sand patches. Wrasse, leatherjackets, magpie morwong and bastard trumpeter are common, and weedy seadragons turn up along the kelp edge. Because it is shallow, the site offers long bottom times and plenty of light, which makes it a good training site and a comfortable dive for newly certified divers who want a taste of Waterfall Bay's topography without depth or overhead passages. Photographers can spend a whole dive on the anemone-lined crevices. The downside of a shallow cliff-base reef is sensitivity to swell: even moderate groundswell makes The Split and Crossroads unpleasant and potentially hazardous, so this is a calm-day site. At night the reef comes alive with octopus, crabs and sleeping wrasse, and because it is shallow it is one of the easier places in the bay to try a boat-based night dive. Pair it with a deeper wall or cave dive elsewhere in the bay. Divers considering the shore approach should inspect the entry beforehand and remember that the exit is up a long climb in heavy gear.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Lookout Bluff – The Split is recorded as Reef 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.
- 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 Lookout Bluff – The Split 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 Lookout Bluff – The Split 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
Jewel anemones, encrusting sponges, southern rock lobster, blue-throated wrasse, purple wrasse, leatherjackets, magpie morwong, bastard trumpeter, weedy seadragons, octopus
Location
Shallow reef at the northern end of Waterfall Bay under Lookout Bluff, with a narrow crevice (The Split) and a small cave junction (Crossroads).
Facilities nearby
Waterfall Bay car park has toilets and a lookout; 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
marinelife.org.augodivetas.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.