The Leven Scuba Club describes Eugenana (Melrose) Quarry as the only all-year-round, all-weather dive site on the north-west coast: an old limestone quarry that has filled with silt and rainwater, 5-13 m deep, with freshwater eels, jellyfish and goldfish. It warns of old mine workings and car bodies. It is mainly used for training and as a fallback when Bass Strait is too rough. Visibility is limited by silt and suspended particles, and the bottom is easily stirred, so good buoyancy control makes a big difference to everyone's dive. The goldfish, presumably released pets, are an oddity that surprises most first-time visitors, and the quarry is an easy place to practise skills. Local knowledge from Leven Scuba Club members is the best way to get the most out of it, and first-time visitors should ideally dive it with someone who knows the site and the tide.

Freshwater diving in Tasmania is limited by cold, tannin-stained water, so quarries and a few clear lakes are the exceptions. Water temperature here drops well below the sea in winter, so a drysuit or thick wetsuit is needed. The quarry's value is as a training venue and a place to keep diving when northerly gales close the coast; it is not a scenic destination. Divers should confirm current access arrangements with local clubs, as quarries can be closed by owners without notice, and must avoid penetrating old workings, which are unstable and can silt out instantly. The nearest chamber is the Royal Hobart Hospital, about 3.5 hours away.

Eugenana is about 15 minutes south of Devonport. The quarry is on private or restricted land; check access arrangements with the Leven Scuba Club before visiting. Enter at the quarry edge.

From the Spirit of Tasmania terminal at Devonport, all central north-coast sites are within about an hour's drive along the Bass Highway. North-coast ramps are often shallow and weedy at low tide, so time launches for mid to high tide and carry a sounder, radio and tide tables.

The north-west coast faces Bass Strait: north-westerly to north-easterly winds and westerly swell make it rough, while southerly winds blow offshore and give flat seas - light airs and sunny days are relatively common from January to April. Easterly gales are common in the warmer months and close the eastern faces of Rocky Cape and Sisters Island. Tidal streams run along the coast (eastward on the flood), and several boat sites are only comfortable around slack water.

Unaffected by sea conditions; visibility drops after heavy rain and in winter when surface water is coldest.

Descend at the edge, follow the quarry walls at 5-13 m, and avoid the old mine workings and submerged car bodies. Turn at a third of gas to allow for the swim back and a possibly harder exit, finish with a 3-minute safety stop at about 5 m if the depth allows, and exit where you entered unless an alternative exit has been checked beforehand.

No confirmed commercial dive operator on the north-west coast as of 2026 (older guides mention dive services in Wynyard and Devonport - verify). Sites are dived mainly by the Leven Scuba Club (Ulverstone), other north-west club members and visiting divers with their own boats; Tasmanian Divers (Launceston) runs occasional northern trips.