Tasmania

Diving in Tasmania North & North-West

Bass Strait's Tasmanian shore from Devonport to Stanley and Rocky Cape is clear, cold and almost undived: sponge gardens, kelp and rock lobster around Wynyard, Boat Harbour and Sisters Beach, the Table Cape wall, and the Rocky Cape National Park reefs. Visibility of 20 m is common in settled weather.

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YouDive turtle in an illustrated Tasmania setting; not a photograph of Tasmania North & North-West

Custom YouDive mascot art inspired by Tasmania. An imaginative illustration, not a photograph or map of this destination.

Your bearings, in a minute

Tasmania North & North-West at a glance

Start with the local site mix, explore the map and find people to ask about your trip.

Explore
36 site records
Recorded settings
Shore/Rock Platform · Reef · Wreck
Map coverage
36 locations to explore
Plan with local help
Meet the listed operators

Directory counts describe published records, not bookable trips. Location confidence is shown separately in the map list. How we check information →

Sources, authorship and review status

Prepared by YouDive editorial with AI assistance. No firsthand visit, equipment test or instructor review is implied.

Independent specialist review: pending. We publish a reviewer’s name, qualifications, date and exact review scope only after the review has actually happened.

Who can contribute and how reviews work →

Find your bearings

Explore Tasmania North & North-West on the map

Compare where the recorded sites sit, then open a site to read its access and source notes. Locations are for orientation, not marine navigation or entry instructions.

36 matching records · 36 with a map location · 0 without a usable position.

The local notebook

Where should you start in Tasmania North & North-West?

Use the actual places attached to the local records to narrow your research. These are recorded nearby towns and areas, not verified departure points or accommodation recommendations.

Different outings to look into

Details drawn from individual published site records
Local exampleRecorded nearby placeRecorded accessFollow the evidence
Port Sorell Estuary (Penguin Island)Port SorellBoatRecorded source ↗
Eugenana (Melrose) QuarryDevonportShoreRecorded source ↗
Chimney Corner (Three Hummock Island)SmithtonBoatRecorded source ↗
5 Mile Reef (North-West)UlverstoneBoatRecorded source ↗
How to use this shortlist

Choose the named outing that interests you first. Compare its recorded place and access with your accommodation plans, then obtain the actual meeting address and schedule from the provider. The site links show the underlying depth, location confidence and source notes. Similar town names or map positions do not establish that two outings can be combined in a day.

A closer look at Tasmania North & North-West

Get a feel for the diving

Our Tasmania North & North-West directory currently includes 36 published site records. The largest recorded category is shore/rock platform (12 records). Use the mix below to decide what you would like to read about first.

The YouDive turtle introducing this destination’s guide

Tasmania North & North-West: what’s in the directory?

A visual guide to recorded site types. Counts show coverage, not popularity or current availability.

Shore/Rock Platform12 records
Reef10 records
Wreck5 records
Pinnacle/Bommie4 records
Island2 records
Other recorded types3 records

Source: published YouDive directory records for Tasmania North & North-West. Bars use the same scale within this graphic; the longest is the largest category, not 100% of the destination.

A few local records to compare

Start with Port Sorell Estuary (Penguin Island), Eugenana (Melrose) Quarry, Chimney Corner (Three Hummock Island). These are examples from different recorded categories, not a recommended route or a list of the best sites. Open each record for its sources, map and review notes.

One alphabetical example per recorded type, up to four types
SiteRecorded typeAccessDepth
Port Sorell Estuary (Penguin Island)

Details need confirmation

DriftBoat8–15 m
Eugenana (Melrose) Quarry

Details need confirmation

Freshwater Lake/RiverShore5–13 m
Chimney Corner (Three Hummock Island)

Details need confirmation

IslandBoat10–15 m
5 Mile Reef (North-West)

Details need confirmation

Pinnacle/BommieBoat25–50 m

How the recorded depths compare

A dot shows a recorded maximum. A line joins the recorded minimum and maximum when both are available. These are site descriptions, not target depths or certification limits.

The table above contains the same depth values. Depth alone cannot establish suitability, and records may require correction. Source: the linked site records.

Take your time with a Tasmanian dive trip

Choose a local base, get comfortable with the equipment arrangements and leave room to enjoy the place around the diving. Your planned outing is a better starting point than trying to cover the whole island in one visit.

Choose one base for the diving part

Compare the town where you plan to stay with the actual meeting point. Ask where equipment is collected, where the activity finishes and whether those places differ. If the trip is part of a wider driving holiday, protect enough time around the outing for fitting and the full briefing. A regional map is useful for orientation, but does not settle your day’s transport.

Have the equipment conversation early

Tell the local provider what you have used recently and what you will need to hire. Ask about the complete exposure-protection setup, available sizes and any introduction needed for unfamiliar equipment. Do not turn a general water-temperature statement into a universal suit recommendation. Individual comfort, the planned activity and the provider’s actual equipment all belong in the discussion.

Let the learning be part of the visit

Bring a small list of questions about the environment and the marine life described in the local records. If photography is your main interest, discuss the outing and group arrangements before packing a large setup. Give the itinerary a worthwhile non-diving alternative too. That makes a change of plan easier to manage without expecting a provider to promise particular conditions.

Three conversations worth having before you book

Local base

Does the accommodation work with the meeting point?

Check collection and return locations.

Hire equipment

Can the required sizes and items be reserved?

Discuss unfamiliar systems before arrival.

Photography interest

How does the outing support the planned activity?

Keep equipment and group needs visible.

From “that looks lovely” to a plan

Make Tasmania North & North-West your kind of dive trip

Find your starting point, meet the local options and keep your ideas together. You do not need to have the whole trip worked out yet.

Where are you on your diving journey?

These are learning paths to explore, not prerequisites for every local site. Confirm the actual course, instructor and your readiness with the provider.

People to talk to about Tasmania North & North-West

These profiles are based in the region or have a sourced link to one of its sites. Shown alphabetically, not as a quality ranking. Ask about the specific trip or course you want.

Compare these local operators →

Browse all operator profiles in this state or territory →

Let’s put the pieces together

Start with the place and your questions. Add dates and prices once you have spoken with the people running the trip.

Open my trips

Creates a new trip with this destination, useful reading and starter questions. Saved on this browser; export a backup from My trips.

THE LOCAL PLANNING BRIEF

Understand the options around Tasmania North & North-West

What this regional directory records

There are 36 published site records in Tasmania North & North-West. The recorded categories include shore/rock platform (12), reef (10), wreck (5), pinnacle/bommie (4). These categories reflect the database; they are not a ranking, a conditions report or an assessment of your suitability.

Use the Tasmania North & North-West site cards to compare recorded access and depth, then open the individual pages for the map accuracy and source notes. Sites grouped in a region are not necessarily close enough to combine in one day.

Research operators in Tasmania →

Ask before booking

  1. Which equipment sizes and models can be reserved?
  2. What local conditions should we discuss before choosing a trip?
  3. How much flexibility is needed around regional transport?

Save the answers with the contact name and date. Separate confirmed arrangements from items still waiting for a reply.

Record your trip questions →

Questions, answered

How do I choose a dive in Tasmania North & North-West?

Begin with the individual site and its source notes, then discuss the proposed trip with a local provider. The 36 published records are research options, not a list of trips available today. Match the plan to your training, recent experience and the operator’s current requirements.

When should I visit Tasmania North & North-West for diving?

Choose dates with a provider who runs the activity you want, then discuss seasonal patterns, recent conditions and alternative itineraries. A generic best-month claim cannot establish the conditions at your exact site or guarantee a wildlife encounter.

Can I use these maps to enter or navigate a dive site?

No. Recorded and approximate map positions support orientation only. Confirm the exact access, permissions, meeting point and route with the responsible local provider or manager.

Regional planning context: Tourism Tasmania — official travel planning ↗. Directory counts come from published YouDive records. Individual site claims remain subject to their source and review notes.

Dive sites in this region

Find local operators
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Tasmania North & North-West

North West Rocky Cape

Gutters and small boulders on a reef rising from 20 m to 10 m.

BoatUp to 22 m
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the sitePinnacle/Bommie

Tasmania North & North-West

Rocky Cape Outer Reef

Rated 9/10: a twin-peaked outcrop stepping to 25 m with current-fed gorgonians and sea pens in often 25 m visibility.

BoatUp to 25 m
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the sitePinnacle/Bommie

Tasmania North & North-West

Simmos Reef (Shag Rock)

A figure-6 bommie from 25 m to 4 m with sea pens, dumpling squid and 25 m visibility.

BoatUp to 25 m
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteIsland

Tasmania North & North-West

Sisters Island (North East Bommie)

An easy bommie circumnavigation in gutters of kelp, gorgonians and nudibranchs, often in 20 m visibility.

BoatUp to 24 m
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteShore/Rock Platform

Tasmania North & North-West

Boat Harbour Point

Easy, varied shore dives either side of the point at one of Tasmania's prettiest beaches.

ShoreUp to 15 m
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteShore/Rock Platform

Tasmania North & North-West

Burnie Breakwater / Blackmans Point

An urban shore dive under the Burnie wharf, with change rooms at the beach.

ShoreUp to 10 m
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteShore/Rock Platform

Tasmania North & North-West

Devonport Breakwater

A shallow breakwater snorkel with a kelp forest and remains of two 1880s wrecks.

ShoreUp to 4 m
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteShore/Rock Platform

Tasmania North & North-West

Don Heads

An easy long shore dive along volcanic reefs beside the historic Don River port.

Shore or BoatUp to 9 m
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Tasmania North & North-West

Fourth Sister (Ulverstone)

A 300 m reef ending in a pinnacle, with schooling fish fed by the current.

BoatUp to 18 m
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteShore/Rock Platform

Tasmania North & North-West

Glory Hole (Sisters Cave)

Quartzite caves, a boulder maze and a bullseye-filled sea cave - Sisters Beach's shore dive.

ShoreUp to 10 m
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Tasmania North & North-West

Horseshoe Reef (Devonport)

The pick of the Devonport dives - a large islet-studded reef with invertebrates at 15-18 m.

BoatUp to 18 m
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteShore/Rock Platform

Tasmania North & North-West

Mersey Bluff (Devonport)

Devonport's easy shore dive below the Mersey Bluff lighthouse - ideal before or after the Spirit of Tasmania.

Shore or BoatUp to 9 m
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteShore/Rock Platform

Tasmania North & North-West

Pebbly Beach (Rocky Cape)

An attractive day-or-night shore dive with spires covered in nudibranchs and basket stars.

ShoreUp to 15 m
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteShore/Rock Platform

Tasmania North & North-West

Rocky Cape

An easy, sheltered course site with a fish-packed rock and superb night diving.

ShoreUp to 10 m
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Tasmania North & North-West

Sea Pen Point (Rocky Cape)

Sea pens in 10-16 m - unusually shallow - on a colourful, tide-fed reef.

BoatUp to 18 m
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Tasmania North & North-West

SS Southern Cross (Boat Rock)

Stern and propeller of an 1863 Clyde-built steamer lost in bushfire smoke in 1889.

BoatUp to 12 m
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteShore/Rock Platform

Tasmania North & North-West

Stanley – The Nut / Godfreys Beach

A sheltered westerly-weather shore dive beneath The Nut, with seadragons, prowfish and giant sponges.

Shore or BoatUp to 15 m
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Tasmania North & North-West

The Boomer (Mary Ann Bay)

A quick, easy dive on a rocky dome right off the Mary Ann Bay ramp.

BoatUp to 9 m
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Tasmania North & North-West

Wynyard – Fossil Bluff / Table Cape

A shallow boulder reef under the basalt cliffs of Table Cape.

BoatUp to 6 m
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the sitePinnacle/Bommie

Tasmania North & North-West

5 Mile Reef (North-West)

Up to 30 m visibility on a deep offshore bommie full of pelagics.

BoatUp to 50 m
Details need confirmation
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Tasmania North & North-West

Asterope (Hebe Reef)

Remains of an 1883 Aberdeen-built wooden barque among the gullies of Hebe Reef.

Boat (day trip)Up to 4 m
Details need confirmation
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Tasmania North & North-West

Badger Head

The closest crayfish reef to Launceston, with scenic shallows.

Boat (day trip)Up to 20 m
Details need confirmation
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the sitePinnacle/Bommie

Tasmania North & North-West

Barrel Rock (Tamar)

Dense, current-fed sponge growth on a beacon-marked rock in the Tamar channel.

Boat (day trip)Up to 30 m
Details need confirmation
TASYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Tasmania North & North-West

Bluestone Point (Rocky Cape)

Long reefs across sand with big basket sponges and lace corals.

Shore or BoatUp to 18 m
Details need confirmation