Safety Cove is a sheltered sandy bay just south of Port Arthur, named because ships could shelter here from westerly gales before entering the harbour. The Marine Life Network guide describes a long, shallow reef near the creek and car park, in 2-5 m, with mussels and a weed garden, and records bastard trumpeter, seahorses and reef fish. It is a gentle, uncomplicated site best suited to snorkelling or a relaxed, shallow scuba dive.

The reef is low and covered in brown algae and seaweeds, with mussel beds on the rocks and sand channels between them. Seahorses, most likely big-belly seahorses, cling to the weed, bastard trumpeter and wrasse feed along the reef, and leatherjackets, sea stars and crabs are common. The site is popular with beach visitors and campers in summer, but rarely with divers, who tend to head for the more spectacular east coast.

It is a pleasant option for a family day, a training snorkel or a warm-up dive before a boat day from Port Arthur, and it is diveable when easterly weather blows out Eaglehawk Neck. Visibility depends heavily on recent weather and runoff. Nearby, Remarkable Cave and the coastal walks to Crescent Bay and Mount Brown are worth visiting; the cliffs at Crescent Bay are also a documented dive site, reached by boat or a long walk.

Given the lack of recent documentation, treat the details as indicative and have a look from the beach before gearing up. For visiting divers staying on the Tasman Peninsula, Safety Cove is a useful rest-day snorkel or a place to introduce non-diving family members to Tasmanian reef life without a boat.

From Port Arthur take Safety Cove Road south for about 4 km to the beach car park at Safety Cove. The Marine Life Network guide places the dive beside the creek near the car park; walk a short distance across the sand to the water and follow the reef edge. There is a small parking area and the beach is a short, flat walk.

Remarkable Cave is a few kilometres further along the road.

Safety Cove faces south-east towards the Port Arthur entrance and Storm Bay. Southerly and south-easterly swell produces surf on the beach and surge on the reef; northerly and westerly winds give the best conditions. The creek carries tannin-stained water after rain, reducing visibility near the entry.

As a shallow site it is best on calm sunny days, when light penetrates the weed garden.

Enter near the creek, fin out to the reef and follow it along its length in 2-4 m, then return the same way. Surface-check your position occasionally, as the reef is long and low.

No operator trips; independent shore divers and snorkellers.