Meet the site
The Nut, a 143 m-high volcanic plug, dominates the historic town of Stanley. The Marine Life Network guide rates the diving 6 out of 10 in 5-15 m: Godfreys Beach is shallow and swell-exposed and good only for snorkelling, while the eastern side near the breakwater is more sheltered and offers the best diving, with attractive bommies in slightly deeper water. It lists abalone in seaweed patches along the shoreline, delicate life on the bommies, large gorgonian fans, warty prowfish, weedy seadragons, ornate cowfish and banded stingarees on the sand.
The Leven Scuba Club lists Stanley Wharf as an excellent shore dive when westerlies have wrecked everything else, with giant sponges, skates and nudibranchs in 2-15 m, but warns of the long walk and the climb on the sea wall. It is a useful bad-weather option for divers based on the north-west coast.
Circular Head, the far north-west corner of Tasmania around Stanley and Smithton, faces the full sweep of Bass Strait and the tidal flows that pour between the mainland and the Hunter Group islands. Few divers visit: there is no dive shop or air station west of Burnie that can be confirmed, so divers bring everything with them, and the Royal Hobart Hospital chamber is around five hours away by road. The reward is clean, rarely dived water and marine life that includes species more typical of Victoria and South Australia, such as warty prowfish and weedy seadragons in the sheltered bays.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Stanley – The Nut / Godfreys Beach 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 Stanley – The Nut / Godfreys Beach 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 Stanley – The Nut / Godfreys Beach 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 sponges, gorgonian fans, warty prowfish, weedy seadragon, ornate cowfish, banded stingarees, skates, nudibranchs, abalone
Location
Diving around The Nut, the volcanic plug at Stanley: the eastern side near the breakwater and wharf offers sheltered bommies to 15 m; Godfreys Beach on the north side is shallow and swell-exposed.
Facilities nearby
Stanley: parking, toilets, cafes, pubs, fuel, accommodation, boat ramp. No air fills.
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.aulevenscubaclub.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.