Bluff Hill Point, near the mouth of the Arthur River, is described by the Marine Life Network guide as the most frequently dived area on the northern west coast. It rates it 6 out of 10: rocky shallows with limited features, rocks to the west that offer swell protection, large crayfish on the seaward rocks and a featureless shallow harbour bottom, in 5-25 m. The guide notes fishing pressure depleting crayfish, and that the scenery above water is superior to that below.

Nearby Kahika Rock, 300 m SSW of the point, was uncharted until the MV Kahika struck it in 1940; the wreck is reportedly broken up in 20-25 m but hard to locate. The guide also describes the nearby Mawson Break and the wreck of the SS Australia (1899) off West Point, both exposed sites for experienced divers only.

Tasmania's west coast faces the full Southern Ocean, and the Marine Life Network guide notes that most of it is diveable only after easterly winds have flattened the swell - an uncommon event largely confined to summer. Macquarie Harbour and Cape Sorell provide the only reliable shelter from south-westerly swell. Crayfish grow large here, abalone are common and fish life is thin on exposed reefs, which are battered by constant swell.

There is no dive shop, air station or chamber anywhere on the west coast; the nearest hyperbaric chamber is the Royal Hobart Hospital, about 4 hours from Strahan by road. Every west coast dive should be treated as remote: carry oxygen, a radio and an EPIRB, and have a realistic evacuation plan.

Arthur River is about 1 hr 15 min south-west of Smithton (2 hr 45 min from Devonport) via the C214. Bluff Hill Point lighthouse is just north of the river mouth; private boats launch nearby. Rocks to the west give some swell protection.

Roads south of Arthur River are gravel and there is no fuel between Arthur River and Zeehan, so carry spare fuel, water and a satellite communicator; mobile coverage is poor or absent on most of this coast.

Exposed to the Southern Ocean; diveable only in easterly weather after the swell drops. Arthur River discharges tannin-stained water after rain. The prevailing westerly and south-westerly swell on this coast commonly exceeds 2-3 m; genuinely diveable days need several days of easterly or light winds and swell under about 1 m, which occur mostly from January to March.

Rivers such as the Arthur and Pieman discharge dark tannin-stained water after rain, cutting visibility.

Dive in the lee of the western rocks, exploring the rocky shallows and the seaward rocks at 10-20 m for crayfish. 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.

No dive operator on the west coast. Air and gear must come from Launceston, Burnie/Devonport or Hobart (the regional guide notes locals sent tanks overnight to Burnie for fills). Sites are dived only by self-sufficient private boats and abalone divers.