Taillefer Rocks are a group of bare granite rocks in the Schouten Island area that the Marine Life Network guide rates 7 out of 10. It describes wide rocky steps descending to cliffs that are rarely deeper than 20 m, although the surrounding bottom reaches 30 m, with invertebrate life packed into the crevices, butterfly perch and banded morwong.

The rocks are a seal haul-out area, so Australian fur seals may join the dive, and the guide warns that strong currents are possible. That combination - clean moving water, seals and rarely disturbed granite - is what gives the site its rating. The steps make a natural dive profile, allowing divers to go down and come back up without long swims.

Taillefer Rocks suit experienced divers with good current skills and a capable boat crew.

Schouten Island is part of Freycinet National Park. Its granite and dolerite peaks rise to over 400 m, and the island has no permanent residents, jetty or facilities apart from a Parks hut and campsite at Moreys Bay, so divers visit with self-contained boats. The island's sites were described in detail in the Marine Life Network regional guide, but few have been documented since; with no operator currently running trips, they are among the least-dived good sites in Tasmania.

A typical Schouten day combines one deeper dive on the exposed eastern or southern side with a shallow second dive in a sheltered bay, choosing sides according to the swell. Because the island is at least 45 minutes from the Coles Bay ramp and more than four hours by road and boat from the Royal Hobart Hospital chamber, conservative profiles, oxygen on board and a reliable weather window are essential.

Coles Bay is 30 minutes south of the Tasman Highway via the C302 (turn off 12 km south of Bicheno), about 2 hr 45 min from Hobart and 2 hr 30 min from Launceston. The main public boat ramp is at Coles Bay township; boats reaching the ocean side of the peninsula or Schouten Island need a seaworthy vessel, as the run around Cape Degerando or through Schouten Passage is exposed. Schouten Island lies across Schouten Passage from the southern tip of the Freycinet Peninsula, roughly 25-30 km (about 45-60 minutes in a fast boat) from the Coles Bay ramp via Promise Bay and the western shore of the peninsula.

Swansea's ramp on the western side of Great Oyster Bay is an alternative. Schouten Passage can run hard with wind against tide. Taillefer Rocks lie off the Schouten Island/Freycinet coast; approach only in calm conditions as currents can be strong around the rocks.

Taillefer Rocks are exposed to swell from most directions and the Marine Life Network guide warns of possible strong currents. Dive only in calm, settled weather and time the dive with the tide if possible. Seals haul out on the rocks.

Rain washes tannin-stained runoff into Great Oyster Bay, and summer afternoons commonly bring a fresh north-easterly sea breeze, so plan dives for the morning.

Drop in the lee of the rocks, follow the wide rocky steps down towards the cliff base at about 20 m and explore the crevices. Ascend on the steps; if current is running, dive into it first and drift back.

No dedicated dive operator at Coles Bay or Freycinet. Sites are dived from private boats and occasional club expeditions (Tas Uni Dive Club, TSDC, Launceston clubs); the Marine Life Network guide notes that Coles Bay is the usual starting point for Schouten Island charters. Cruise and kayak operators in Coles Bay do not offer scuba.