South of Babel Island, limestone ledges on Flinders Island's east coast are the site of what the Marine Life Network guide calls the Fossil Dive, rated 5 out of 10. Fossils eroding from the rock were discovered in the 1970s and include teeth of the extinct giant shark Carcharodon (Otodus) megalodon; the best recoveries have been near Cameron Inlet. The guide says there is no particular technique - luck finding the right ledge matters - that fossils look like black rocks, and that the seabed is uninspiring unless the hunt succeeds. It asks that all finds be shown to the local museum, and a specimen display is at the Lady Barron pub. Local advice from Flinders Island Dive or the charter skippers at Lady Barron on current conditions, tides and exact positions is the best starting point for any dive here.

The Furneaux Group - Flinders, Cape Barren, Clarke, Preservation and dozens of smaller islands - is one of Australia's least-dived temperate regions. Granite dominates, but Flinders Island also has unusual limestone reefs, and the islands' position on the eastern approach to Bass Strait left a long trail of shipwrecks from the colony's earliest years. The Marine Life Network guide remains the fullest published account of the dive sites; since then Flinders Island Dive at Emita has made air and guiding available on the island.

All wrecks over 75 years old are protected under Commonwealth and Tasmanian heritage law: nothing may be disturbed or removed, and new finds should be reported to the Parks and Wildlife Service. There is no chamber on the island, so a diving injury means aeromedical evacuation to Hobart or Melbourne; dive conservatively and carry oxygen.

Flinders Island is reached by air from Launceston (about 35 minutes) or Melbourne, landing at Whitemark, or by the vehicular freight ferry from Bridport. Flinders Island Dive at Emita can supply cylinders and weights, which avoids air-freighting heavy gear. Whitemark's ramp is difficult at tide extremes; Lady Barron in the south has the best ramp and most sheltered anchorage and is the base for trips to Cape Barren, Preservation and Clarke islands.

Babel Island lies off the east coast of Flinders Island near Cameron Inlet. Boats launched at Lady Barron reach the area in about 45-60 minutes along the east coast; the east coast is exposed, so choose a westerly day.

The Furneaux Group sits in eastern Bass Strait: the west coast of Flinders Island is exposed to the prevailing westerlies, the east coast to easterly summer gales, and strong tidal streams run through Franklin Sound, Armstrong Channel and the passages between the islands, especially after gales. January-April offers the most settled weather, but sudden southerly or westerly changes can arrive with little warning, so plan around a safe anchorage. Flinders Island's east coast is exposed to easterly summer gales; dive in westerly weather.

Search along the limestone ledges for black, rock-like fossils eroding out of the reef. Show all finds to the local museum. Turn the dive at half gas (thirds where current or overhead sections are involved), deploy an SMB before surfacing for the live-boat pick-up, and complete a 3-minute safety stop at about 5 m where depth allows.

Flinders Island Dive (Emita, west coast; ph 0428 598 529) offers scuba and snorkel hire, air, and small-group guided diving, snorkelling and fishing tours including reefs, caves and shipwrecks, year-round. Charter boats Rockjaw Tours and Latitude Charters (listed by Visit Flinders Island) run trips that can include diving; the southern wrecks are reached from Lady Barron.