Meet the site
Mersey Bluff, below the red-and-white lighthouse at the mouth of the Mersey River, is the most convenient dive in Devonport. The Marine Life Network guide rates it 5 out of 10 as a picturesque, easy and colourful dive in calm weather: a fringing reef split by pebble gutters, with northern reef extensions in 6-9 m. Cup corals, nudibranchs, anemones, sponges and hydroids fill the crevices; luderick, wrasse, leatherjackets, magpie perch, small abalone, zebrafish and bastard trumpeter are common, with white gorgonians and lace bryozoans on the deeper reefs. The Leven Scuba Club says a nice long dive is possible, with small but well-defined features and cuttlefish, abalone, nudibranchs, leatherjackets, seastars, anemones and magpie perch. Local knowledge from Leven Scuba Club members is the best way to get the most out of it, and first-time visitors should ideally dive it with someone who knows the site and the tide.
The central north coast between Wynyard and Port Sorell is the home water of the Leven Scuba Club at Ulverstone, whose site list is the main modern source for it, supplemented by the older Marine Life Network guide. The towns of Burnie, Ulverstone and Devonport sit right on the coast, so many sites are within minutes of a ramp or car park, but the reefs are generally low and weedy, visibility is often 5-10 m, and the coast is open to Bass Strait's northerly and westerly weather.
Devonport is the Spirit of Tasmania ferry terminal, which makes these sites the first and last dives for many interstate visitors bringing their own gear. There is no hyperbaric chamber in the north - the nearest is the Royal Hobart Hospital, about 3.5 hours' drive - so dive conservatively, especially on the deeper offshore sites.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Mersey Bluff (Devonport) is recorded as Shore/Rock Platform in Tasmania North & North-West. 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.
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 Mersey Bluff (Devonport) 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 Mersey Bluff (Devonport) 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
Cup corals, nudibranchs, anemones, sponges, hydroids, luderick, wrasse, leatherjackets, magpie perch, zebrafish, bastard trumpeter, cuttlefish, abalone, white gorgonians, lace bryozoans
Location
A fringing reef split by pebble gutters below the Mersey Bluff lighthouse at Devonport, with northern reef extensions in 6-9 m.
Facilities nearby
Mersey Bluff: parking, toilets, surf club, cafe, Bluff Beach. Devonport: all services, Spirit of Tasmania terminal, ramps at the Mersey River. Air fills: check locally (no confirmed shop) or Tasmanian Divers, Launceston (1 hr).
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
levenscubaclub.com.aumarinelife.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.