Tasmania’s rugged coast offers all kinds of incredible adventures, and one of the best is a dive with the seals that make their home on Hippolyte Rock. This small island is located eight kilometers south of Pirates Bay, and rises up from the deep to break the surface. Its steep walls are magnificently painted with soft coral and sponges, plus lots of brilliant yellow zoanthids, and are teeming with invertebrates. This beautiful backdrop is truly wonderful and offers an astonishing look at the Earth’s geology; but, the reason this dive is beyond fantastic is the seal colony that lives here, and the rest of the associated life forms found in the area.
The Seals
Australia’s Brown Fur Seals are protected by law. Once hunted for their pelts to the point of near extinction, the species is recovering well. Male fur seals can be more than two meters long, and can weigh as much as 360 kilograms (800 pounds). It is important to be able to identify the males, as they can be aggressive at times – they are brown to dark grey, and have a light colored underside. The females, which are friendlier, are grey or light brown, with a dark underside and a patch of lighter color at the throat. They are much smaller than the males, at about five feet long and 250 pounds. Each male adult has a harem of females, which number up to fifty individuals.
The seals are incredible divers, capable of reaching depths of up to 600 meters. They are often curious, and enjoy spending time with divers. It is important to remember not to reach out to touch the seals, as they have very sharp teeth and will bite if harassed. They feed on bony fish, crustaceans and cephalopods, which they capture from the deep continental shelf at times, and they start to breed in mid-October. Gestation lasts several months, with pups being born in late November and early December.
When there are lots of pups, the number of sharks in the area increases; but, don’t be alarmed. Sharks are not after divers, and normally prey on weak, stranded pups and older adults. Of all the seals you will encounter, the pups are the most playful and inquisitive. Adults can be playful too, though most will simply go about their business.
Getting Here, and What to Expect
Hipployte Rock and Cape Pillar are remote locations, and surface conditions can be choppy. Taking appropriate measures to combat seasickness will help you to enjoy the trip even more! It is not uncommon to encounter a pod of dolphins or some whales while traveling to and from the site.
When you dive at Hippolyte Rock, you’ll be staying at a depth of about fifteen to twenty meters, rather than making the full descent to ninety meters, where the rocky island meets the sea floor. There can be a brisk current at times, so this is not a dive for the uninitiated! You’ll need great buoyancy control and a firm grasp of all-around diving skills.
There are only a few dive operators that make the trip to the Hippolyte Rock Seal Colony, so be sure to book your trip well in advance. An unbelievable adventure you’ll never forget, awaits!