The Nord is widely regarded as Tasmania's finest wreck dive; Australian Geographic noted that those in the know rate it second only to the Yongala among Australian wreck dives. She was a steel cargo steamer of 88 m (about 290 ft) and roughly 1,475 tons, British-registered, carrying case oil and benzine from Melbourne to Hobart. On 7 November 1915 she struck an uncharted pinnacle near the Hippolyte Rocks, was abandoned, and foundered the following day in Munro Bight.

All 42 crew survived. Today the wreck sits upright on a sandy seabed at 42 m. Eaglehawk Dive Centre describes her as remarkably intact for her age: the superstructure has collapsed, but the bow and stern are reasonably intact and the rudder still moves; the ABC's 2024 account describes the hull as split in half on the sand.

Brass fittings and Chinese crockery have been reported inside. The attraction is as much the life as the steel. The Divers Alert Network describes an enormous rudder and propeller glowing a soft yellow-orange under their coat of zoanthids and sponges, and the hull and machinery are covered in encrusting invertebrates.

Huge schools of butterfly perch and bullseyes swirl over the wreck, and fur seals have been seen hunting there. Visibility can exceed 20 m on good days. The Nord is strictly for experienced divers: the operators require Deep Diver Specialty or equivalent, and the site is exposed to southerly and easterly weather and currents.

At 40 m on air, bottom time is short, so many divers use twin cylinders, nitrox for decompression or trimix to extend their time. Penetration is not advisable given the collapsed superstructure. A calm day on the Nord is a highlight of any trip to Tasmania.

Boat access only. Most private trips use the Fortescue Bay boat ramp (Arthur Highway to Taranna, then 12 km of gravel on Fortescue Road; national park pass required), which is the closest launch to Cape Hauy, the Hippolytes, Munro Bight and Cape Pillar. Eaglehawk Dive Centre and Go Dive Tasmania run from Pirates Bay at Eaglehawk Neck (or Port Arthur for Go Dive), adding 20-30 minutes each way.

There are no moorings on these exposed sites; boats drift or hover and run a live-boat pick-up. Carry full safety gear, a VHF radio and oxygen – the nearest help is at Port Arthur or Eaglehawk Neck and the chamber is in Hobart, about 1.5-2 hours away. Eaglehawk Dive Centre requires advance booking for the Nord.

The Nord site is among the most exposed dive sites on the Tasman Peninsula, facing the Southern Ocean and Tasman Sea with no shelter from southerly or easterly weather. The operator notes it is exposed to southerly and easterly weather and currents; the area needs no swell and a westerly wind, and that such windows may occur only a handful of times a year; Easter weekend was noted as one. Anything more than about 1-1.5 m of south-easterly to southerly swell, or easterly winds, makes them undiveable.

Currents are strong and unpredictable, particularly around the Needle, Tasman Island passage and Cape Pillar; plan around neap tides and expect to drift. Late summer and autumn (February-May) offer the best chances; operators confirm on the day.

Descend a shot line to the deck at about 36-38 m, check current, and swim to the stern to see the rudder and propeller, then along the hull to the bow. Keep strictly to planned no-deco or deco limits, return to the shot and do a slow ascent with the planned stops on the line.

Deep Specialty minimum. Air gives only a few minutes of no-deco time at 40 m; nitrox 28-32% for shallower portions or EAN50 for deco; many technical divers use trimix 21/35 or similar. Twinsets or rebreathers recommended for longer dives.

Shot line strongly recommended.

Eaglehawk Dive Centre – booked-in-advance Nord trips for Deep-certified divers when weather allows; Go Dive Tasmania – SS Nord (~40 m, Deep certification) on calm days; Tasmanian Scuba Diving Club – club trips.