Meet the site
Waterfall Cave is a small, shallow loop cave at the back of Waterfall Bay, below the point where the waterfall spills from the clifftop. The Marine Life Network site guide lists it in 4-15 m and notes it as a place where broadnose sevengill sharks have been seen resting, an unusual encounter for a site this shallow. The cave is a through-passage rather than a deep system, so daylight is visible from both ends and it makes a gentler introduction to cave-style diving than Cathedral Cave. Its walls carry the same shaded-habitat community that makes Waterfall Bay famous: jewel anemones, golden zoanthids, encrusting sponges and bryozoans, with bullseyes gathering in the darker corners. Outside the cave the reef consists of dolerite boulders and short walls covered in kelp and brown algae, with weedy seadragons, wrasse and leatherjackets. The main attraction for many is the chance of a sevengill shark: these large, slow-moving sharks sometimes sit quietly on the floor of caves and gutters along this coast. They are normally unconcerned by divers who keep their distance and stay calm, but should never be crowded or touched. Because it is close to the cliff, the site is sensitive to swell and surge, and after heavy rain the waterfall can put a freshwater lens on the surface that reduces visibility for a day or two. In calm weather it is a short, scenic dive that combines well with a deeper wall dive on the same boat trip. The shore approach described in the older guides is rarely used now that operators run boats daily from Pirates Bay; if you consider it, check the track and the entry rocks beforehand and have a plan for exiting if swell rises.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Waterfall Cave is recorded as Cave/Cavern 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.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
- Overhead environments
- Ask whether the plan stays entirely in open water. A wreck or cave listing is not permission or training to enter.
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 Waterfall Cave 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 Waterfall Cave 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, zoanthids, sponges, bryozoans, bullseyes, broadnose sevengill sharks (occasional), weedy seadragons, wrasse, leatherjackets, rock lobster
Location
Shallow loop cave beneath the waterfall at the back of Waterfall Bay, reachable by boat or, for fit divers, from the Waterfall Bay track.
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.aueaglehawkdive.com.augodivetas.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.