Description

Separated from mainland Australia by the 240 km stretch of Bass Strait, Tasmania is a land apart - a place of wild and beautiful landscapes; friendly, welcoming people; a pleasant, temperate climate; Because of its unique topography, the only way to go to a diving site in the peninsula is by boat.

Diving in Tasman Peninsula

The Tasman Peninsula boasts of various exciting diving spots for scuba enthusiasts. This scenic peninsula is surrounded by beautiful bays, which are rich in marine life.

Diving in Tasmania features kelp forests, caverns, crayfish and abalone. Major destinations include Eaglehawk Neck, Maria Island, Bicheno, Wynyard, St Helens, Launceston and Flinders and King Islands. Sea animals that thrive on the peninsula's aquatic sanctuary are zoanthids, bright colored shaw's cowfish, jewel anemones, and rainbow colored weedy seadragons. Whales and dolphins are also part of the scenic views in Tasman Peninsula, with its cliff walls ranging from 250 to 277 metres in height.

Although the air temperature is pleasant be careful as the water temperature drops sharply with the depth. It is not rare to have 10C. So better take 5mm suit and you dry suit altogether to be safe. The best times for diving in Tasmania are the summer, autumn and winter months of December to August.

Amongst other sites you have 2 well-known diving areas in Tasman Peninsula. One is the Waterfall Bay Caves only 10 minutes away from the rocky jetty. The Waterfall Bay is the special area with lots of caves for all level. The peninsula also offers many diving sections for people with varying experience levels.

The other most famous site in Tasman Peninsula is the Cathedral Cave, with its walls covered with tropical invertebrates. This site is for entry-level divers. As this diving area's name suggests, it looks like a sunken church, complete with a dome, an arch, and catacombs. The depth of this cave is approximately 21 meters.

For the most part, the catacombs area in the Cathedral is made up of tunnels and passageways that can but provide enough space for a single diver.

And if you like caves and you are experienced diver we advise you 2 good dives to do: one at Skull Cave, which is accessible by passing through an empty small passage called the Revelation Bend. Another is the Devil's Tonsils: because if tight passages this dive requires special training to be safe.

Bicheno, situated on the east coast of Tasmania, 182km (113 miles) north east of Hobart, is the gateway to some of the most picturesque diving in the state which extends up to St Helens. An early 19th century sanctuary for sealers and whalers, Bicheno is now a busy Cray fishing and abalone port. In winter when diving is best with water visibility reaching 30 metres, divers have the pleasure of diving amongst schools of dolphins or swimming alongside whales which use Bicheno as a stopover during their migration.

WDR.