Drift Dives in Tasmania

Sites dived on the current: tidal channels like the Gold Coast Seaway, Swansea and Port Phillip Heads, and the reef passes of the Coral Sea and the Rowley Shoals. Surface marker, boat cover and slack-water timing are the essentials.

All states QLD NSW VIC TAS SA WA NT Territories

32 sites

Sort:Default Most dived Deepest Shallowest A–Z

WreckMax 4 m

Asterope (Hebe Reef)

Tasmania North & North-West · TAS

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

Open WaterIntermediate

Pinnacle/BommieMax 30 m

Barrel Rock (Tamar)

Tasmania North & North-West · TAS

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

Deep/Advanced + experienceAdvanced

WallMax 50 m

Cape Pillar

Tasman Peninsula · TAS

Sheer columnar walls under a 300 m cape at the edge of the Southern Ocean, with superb clarity.

Technical (decompression)Advanced

IslandMax 15 m

Chimney Corner (Three Hummock Island)

Tasmania North & North-West · TAS

Rare granite swim-throughs on a remote Hunter Group island.

Advanced Open WaterAdvanced

DriftMax 10 m

Dunalley (Denison) Canal

Tasman Peninsula · TAS

South-east Tasmania's only easy drift dive, with seasonal spider crab aggregations.

Advanced Open WaterIntermediate

WreckMax 7 m

Eden Holme (Hebe Reef)

Tasmania North & North-West · TAS

Ribs and plates of a 1907 iron barque, 40 m from the Esk on Hebe Reef.

Open WaterIntermediate

WallMax 30 m

Farewell Beacon (Tamar)

Tasmania North & North-West · TAS

A channel-edge drop-off at the Tamar mouth with rich fish life and occasional big stingrays.

Advanced Open WaterAdvanced

IslandMax 6 m

Fosters Island

Tasmania North-East · TAS

A shallow weed garden with the remains of two 19th-century wrecks, near the Loch Finlas and General Picton.

Open WaterIntermediate

WreckMax 25 m

General Picton (Fosters Island)

Tasmania North-East · TAS

Swim-throughs among the iron plates of an 1888 four-master against a Bass Strait reef.

Wreck specialty recommendedAdvanced

Shore/Rock PlatformMax 35 mShore

George Town Sponge Gardens

Tasmania North & North-West · TAS

Spectacular current-fed sponge gardens reachable from the shore at George Town.

Deep/Advanced + experienceAdvanced

Shore/Rock PlatformMax 15 mShore

Grey Crags (Western Bay)

Tasmania North & North-West · TAS

A maze of quartz ridges and gutters at 15 m reachable from shore, with schools of barber perch.

Advanced Open WaterIntermediate

DriftMax 15 m

Hells Gates (Macquarie Harbour)

Tasmania West Coast · TAS

The infamous entrance to Macquarie Harbour, with two shallow historic wrecks on its spits.

Advanced Open WaterExpert/Technical

IslandMax 65 m

Hippolyte Rocks

Tasman Peninsula · TAS

Remote seal-colony islets with bull kelp shallows, sponge reefs from 30 m and huge fish schools.

Technical (decompression)Advanced

WreckMax 24 m

Loch Finlas (Fosters Island Reef)

Tasmania North-East · TAS

Rated 9/10: a relatively intact 1885 iron ship with a canted bow and counter stern at 19-24 m.

Wreck specialty recommendedExpert/Technical

Shore/Rock PlatformMax 6 mShore

Low Head Shore

Tasmania North & North-West · TAS

An easy terrace reef below Australia's oldest pilot station, usable as a gentle tidal drift.

Open WaterIntermediate

WreckMax 9 m

Mayfield (Swan Island wreck)

Tasmania North-East · TAS

The largest sailing ship wrecked in Tasmania - a 2285-ton steel four-master off Swan Island.

Wreck specialty recommendedExpert/Technical

DriftMax 15 m

Port Sorell Estuary (Penguin Island)

Tasmania North & North-West · TAS

Sponge gardens with seahorses in a tidal estuary east of Devonport.

Open WaterIntermediate

Pinnacle/BommieMax 25 m

Rocky Cape Outer Reef

Tasmania North & North-West · TAS

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

Advanced Open WaterAdvanced

ReefMax 18 m

Sea Pen Point (Rocky Cape)

Tasmania North & North-West · TAS

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

Open WaterIntermediate

WreckMax 16 m

SS Bulli (Kent Group)

Kent Group · TAS

A reasonably intact 1877 iron steamer, 5 m proud of the sand in Bass Strait's clear water.

Open WaterAdvanced

WreckMax 3 m

SS Devon (Hells Gates)

Tasmania West Coast · TAS

An 1894 steamer's stern and steering gear breaking the surface behind the Hells Gates breakwater.

Snorkel/AnyAdvanced

WreckMax 6 m

SS Esk (Hebe Reef)

Tasmania North & North-West · TAS

Boiler, engine and propeller of an 1886 iron steamer in 5 m, beside a second wreck.

Open WaterIntermediate

WreckMax 4 m

SS Kawatiri (Hells Gates)

Tasmania West Coast · TAS

A tragic 1907 wreck on the shoal that bears its name, periodically uncovered by shifting sand.

Advanced Open WaterExpert/Technical

WreckMax 72 mArea view

SS Tasman

Tasman Peninsula · TAS

Rarely seen 1883 steamer at 70 m beneath the Hippolyte Needle – a serious technical expedition target.

Technical (decompression)Expert/Technical

Shore/Rock PlatformMax 15 mShore

Stanley Point (Flinders Island)

Flinders Island & Furneaux Group · TAS

Flinders Island's best shore dive - current-fed walls of sponges and unusual small fish.

Advanced Open WaterAdvanced

IslandMax 30 m

Taillefer Rocks

Tasmania East Coast · TAS

Stark granite steps with seals and strong clean water in the Schouten Island group.

Advanced Open WaterAdvanced

IslandMax 40 m

Tasman Island

Tasman Peninsula · TAS

Remote island wall under the Tasman Island lighthouse with deep-water sponges, seals and clean Southern Ocean water.

Deep/Advanced + experienceAdvanced

IslandMax 40 m

The Friars (Bruny Island)

Bruny Island & D'Entrecasteaux Channel · TAS

Remote volcanic islets with swim-throughs, seals and clean Southern Ocean water off Bruny's southern tip.

Deep/Advanced + experienceAdvanced

Pinnacle/BommieMax 30 m

The Monument

Tasman Peninsula · TAS

Current-swept spire beyond Cape Hauy with clean water and schooling butterfly perch.

Advanced Open WaterAdvanced

Pinnacle/BommieMax 65 mArea view

The Needle (Hippolyte)

Tasman Peninsula · TAS

Current-swept sponge pinnacle that sank the SS Tasman; one of Tasmania's most dramatic deep dives.

Technical (decompression)Expert/Technical

ReefMax 25 m

The Sponge Garden (Sisters Island)

Tasmania North & North-West · TAS

Prolific, multicoloured sponge growth on jagged bommies - best done as a drift.

Advanced Open WaterIntermediate

IslandMax 30 m

Waterhouse Island

Tasmania North-East · TAS

A tide-swept Bass Strait island reef with velvetfish and crevice life.

Advanced Open WaterAdvanced