Whale Rock is a small, wave-swept rock about a kilometre off Spectacle Head in Frederick Henry Bay, named because it looks like a diving whale from the shore. The Marine Life Network guide lists it at 4-12 m and suggests it as a half-day boat dive from Dodges Ferry. The shallows around the rock are uncomfortable in any swell, but the deeper water is more pleasant and sheltered, with a few large rocks at about 12 m where fish numbers increase.

The reef is covered in brown algae, and typical Frederick Henry Bay species – wrasse, leatherjackets, bastard trumpeter, magpie morwong and small reef fish – are found around the rocks. It is an unassuming site that suits divers with a small boat looking for something close to Hobart's eastern shore. The main limitation is the bay's exposure to southerly weather, which quickly reduces visibility.

Combine it with a look at Spectacle Head, a nearby shore site that can be reached with a walk from Red Ochre Beach. Documentation is limited to an older guide; expect to explore. Dodges Ferry and Carlton are popular holiday areas with a boat ramp, shops and accommodation, and the rock can easily be combined with a snorkel at Spectacle Head or on the reefs along Carlton's beaches.

For divers based on Hobart's eastern shore, it is a practical short trip when the Derwent's visibility is poor after rain. Bring a sounder to locate the large rocks at 12 m, which hold most of the fish, and plan to anchor on sand rather than reef. Because the site is small, a single dive covers it comfortably.

Boat access. Dodges Ferry is about 40 km (40 minutes) east of Hobart via the Tasman Highway, Sorell and Carlton Beach Road. Launch at the Dodges Ferry boat ramp and run south-east to Whale Rock, about 1 km off Spectacle Head, roughly 10-15 minutes.

Anchor in the deeper, more sheltered water away from the rock. The ramp has trailer parking; fuel and supplies are available at Dodges Ferry and Sorell.

Frederick Henry Bay is exposed to southerly weather; the Marine Life Network notes that even moderate conditions reduce visibility at Whale Rock and bring surge to the shallows. Dive on calm days with northerly or light westerly winds. The deeper water around the rock is more pleasant and sheltered than the shallows.

Descend in the deeper water beside the rock to about 12 m, explore the large rocks, and circle the base of Whale Rock at 8-10 m, staying out of the surge in the shallows.

No regular operator; private boats from Dodges Ferry.