The enchanted underwater world that surrounds the Tasman Peninsula is a feast for the eyes and the imagination, alike. Boasting unique biological diversity and home to everything from whales and dolphins to tiny sea dragons and other invertebrates, all of which is intensely colorful and invariably magnificent, this is one of the best dive destinations you’ll ever visit. While there are hundreds of places to dive here, some of the best sites deserve special mention. Let’s slip into the serene blue waters of Tasmania, and see just a few of them.
Waterfall Bay Caves
Over the millennia, the mudstone and sandstone which the Tasman Peninsula is composed of has eroded into a maze of tunnels and caves. Most notable among these is Waterfall Bay, which is known for its massive sea caves. The largest of these caves, and one the best dive sites Tasmania has to offer, is Cathedral Cave, which is known for its deep catacombs and for its soaring arch and dome. Schooling fish congregate near the entrance at 21 meters, and the walls are covered in brilliant invertebrates, many of which normally live at greater depths. Narrow tunnels and cross-passages lead to smaller caverns, all of which are magnificent.
Smaller caves, including Horseshoe Cave and Dog Leg Cave, as well as the canyons and swimthroughs you’ll find at the Paterson’s Arch dive site, are very popular as well. With bommies and walls in depths as shallow as 18 meters, Waterfall Bay has something to offer all divers, from novice to expert.
Giant Kelp Forests
Fortescue Bay is famous for its incredible giant kelp forests. If you’ve ever encountered kelp on the beach and wondered why it is just so special, take a dive inside a kelp forest, and you’ll see that the limp, dank dead kelp you may have kicked out of the way in the past is completely different underwater. Sparkles of sunlight and dappled patches of shade, which never stay still, plus the brilliant green and blue shades you’ll see while diving make for an unbelievably beautiful atmosphere. At Fortescue Bay, the kelp rises up from a white sandy seabed at an easy ten to eighteen meters, and brilliant sponges add to the overall beauty of the environment.
Here, you will find weedy sea dragons and sea horses, plus lots of lovely fish and intriguing invertebrates, plus cuttlefish and octopus. This is truly a wonderful dive that everyone can enjoy.
The Wreck of the SS Nord
Today, the wreck of the SS Nord lies in forty meters of water, is played by a swift current, and is accessible only to experienced wreck divers, and only under good weather conditions. Once a worthy metal-hulled cargo ship, the Nord sank in 1915, while trying to hug the coastline to avoid bad weather. The ship’s captain tried to navigate through two massive rocks, but Needle Rock, which was then uncharted, pierced the ship’s bow, causing her to sink in the waters of Munroe Bight.
The ship’s bow is firmly lodged in the sand, while the stern, with rudder intact, remains exposed. The Nord, which was built in 1900, is 289 feet long, and is still quite intact. A protected maritime history site, the ship still boasts brass fittings, and it is possible to view numerous artifacts, including Chinese crockery, as you explore the wreck and surrounding reef.
These three locations are all vastly different from one another, and serve to illustrate the diversity the Tasman Peninsula has to offer. All dives in the area are boat dives, and charters fill up quickly, so book your diving vacation as soon as possible to be sure you can visit the sites you are most interested in!