Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 9 Nov 2026
Wynyard Offshore Reefs
Tasmania North & North-West, Tasmania · near Wynyard
| Depth | 3–20 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Advanced Open Water |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Access | Boat |
| Entry | Back roll or giant stride from a small boat (live-boat drop and pick-up is the local norm) |
| Current | Mild |
| Visibility | 8-15 m |
| Water | summer 16-19 °C, winter 11-13 °C |
| Suit | 7 mm wetsuit with hood, gloves and boots (or semi-dry); drysuit common, especially May-October |
| Best season | December-April, on calm days with southerly (offshore) winds |
| Bottom time | 45 min |
| Position | not published |
| Permit | No marine reserve; normal Tasmanian fishing rules apply. No permit needed to dive. |
| Nearest chamber | Royal Hobart Hospital Hyperbaric Medicine Unit (Hobart) - the only chamber in Tasmania; Launceston has none. DAN emergency hotline 1800 088 200 |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Wynyard Offshore Reefs
Also known as Steps Reef, Sanctuary, Golden Canyon, Zoo
An extensive offshore reef system with walls, pinnacles and sponge gardens, known mainly to local club divers.
Near Wynyard · Tasmania North & North-West, Tasmania
- Depth
- 3–20 m
- Minimum level
- Advanced Open Water
- Access
- Boat
- Boat ride
- ~20 min
- Water
- 16-19 °C
- Visibility
- 8-15 m
Wynyard Offshore Reefs3–20 m · Advanced Open Water
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
Off-peak nowBest months: January, February, March, April, December.
December-April, on calm days with southerly (offshore) winds
- Best months
- Now (November)
Dive facts
- Depth
- 3–20 m
- Typical depth
- 12 m
- Certification
- Advanced Open Water
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Depth tier
- Advanced Open Water (18–30 m)
- Access
- Boat
- Offshore
- 5 km
- Dive centre needed
- Yes – boat access only
- Shore / independent
- No
- Boat ride
- ~20 min
- Current
- Mild
- Visibility
- 8-15 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 16-19 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 11-13 °C
- Water
- Cold Temperate
- Bottom time
- 45 min
- Dive traffic
- Moderate (occasional charters/club dives)
- Night dive
- No
- Snorkel friendly
- No
Exposure suit
7 mm wetsuit with hood, gloves and boots (or semi-dry); drysuit common, especially May-October
Location
Wynyard & Table Cape · Tasmania North-West Coast
No published coordinates. The map above shows the general area, estimated from other documented sites near Wynyard.
Primary source: levenscubaclub.com.auMarine park & permits
No marine reserve; normal Tasmanian fishing rules apply. No permit needed to dive.
Nearest recompression chamber
Royal Hobart Hospital Hyperbaric Medicine Unit (Hobart) - the only chamber in Tasmania; Launceston has none. DAN emergency hotline 1800 088 200
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Wynyard Offshore Reefs →
A day-by-day plan for Tasmania North & North-West with this site locked in.
This guide is a planning aid. Conditions change daily — confirm with a local dive centre and dive within your training. Data & safety notes.
Dive profile
How this site rates
Scores are computed from the recorded data, not opinions. How?
At a glance
Wynyard Offshore Reefs is a reef boat dive in Tasmania North & North-West, TAS, 3–20 m, suited to Advanced Open Water divers, about 20 minutes by boat.
Rated intermediate because of depth beyond 18 m, cold water.
Why dive here
- An extensive offshore reef system with walls, pinnacles and sponge gardens, known mainly to local club divers.
Conditions to avoid
- Strong southerly or south-east swell and wind
- Afternoon north-easterlies
- Strong westerlies
- Any time other than slack water
About Wynyard Offshore Reefs
The Leven Scuba Club lists the Wynyard area as an extensive reef system ranging from 2 to 8 km offshore, with sites such as Steps Reef, Sanctuary, Golden Canyon and Zoo in 3-20 m. It describes kelp beds, rocky walls, pinnacles, zoanthids and sponge gardens.
The names suggest a mix of stepped reefs, canyons (Golden Canyon presumably for yellow zoanthids) and fish-rich bommies (Zoo). Divers should seek local marks before heading out. 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.
The central north coast between Wynyard and Port Sorell is the home water of the Leven Scuba Club at Ulverstone, whose site list is the main modern source for it, supplemented by the older Marine Life Network guide. The towns of Burnie, Ulverstone and Devonport sit right on the coast, so many sites are within minutes of a ramp or car park, but the reefs are generally low and weedy, visibility is often 5-10 m, and the coast is open to Bass Strait's northerly and westerly weather.
Devonport is the Spirit of Tasmania ferry terminal, which makes these sites the first and last dives for many interstate visitors bringing their own gear. There is no hyperbaric chamber in the north - the nearest is the Royal Hobart Hospital, about 3.5 hours' drive - so dive conservatively, especially on the deeper offshore sites.
Getting there & entry
An extensive reef system 2-8 km off Wynyard with named sites including Steps Reef, Sanctuary, Golden Canyon and Zoo, in 3-20 m.
Launch in the Inglis River at Wynyard and run 2-8 km offshore to the reef system; the named sites are local marks, so go with Leven Scuba Club members or someone who has the GPS positions. Allow 10-25 minutes depending on the site. 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.
Entry: Back roll or giant stride from a small boat (live-boat drop and pick-up is the local norm)
Facilities: Wynyard: Inglis River ramp, shops, fuel.
Weather, swell & tides
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.
Offshore and exposed; only in calm conditions with light southerly winds.
Best season: December-April, on calm days with southerly (offshore) winds
How the dive is usually run
Choose a named site (walls, pinnacles or kelp beds), drop on the local mark and dive a circuit at 10-20 m. Turn the dive at half gas (thirds where current or overhead sections are involved), deploy an SMB before surfacing for the live-boat pick-up, and complete a 3-minute safety stop at about 5 m where depth allows.
Marine life
- Kelp beds
- zoanthids
- sponge gardens
- reef fish
Linked species have their own page listing every site where they are recorded. All marine life →
Training required
Beyond 18 m an Advanced certification (which includes a deep dive to 30 m) is the accepted minimum. Anything past 25 m is a deep dive in practice.
Open Water divers can dive the shallower section (typical depth 12 m); the full site to 20 m needs Advanced Open Water. Operators often quote Open Water.
Operators' own listing: Open Water.
Courses that help here
- Drysuit Diver – Cold water; locals dive dry for much of the year.
Depth tiers: 0–10 m easy · to 18 m Open Water · 18–30 m Advanced (25 m+ is a deep dive) · 30–40 m Deep specialty · 40 m+ technical. All courses
Hazards & warnings
Offshore; positions unpublished; exposed to Bass Strait weather.
Dive centres that go here
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.
Operators recorded for Wynyard Offshore Reefs
Tasmanian Divers North
ListedLaunceston · Tasmania North & North-West · TAS
A northern Tasmanian operation serving the Bass Strait coastline and local diving community.
tasdivers.com.au · (03) 6229 1020
Leven Scuba Club
Named by sitesDevonport · Tasmania North & North-West · TAS
Club, not a shop: website live and the club is listed for the Tasmanian Combined Clubs Weekend 2026; meets first Thursday monthly at Mersey Yacht Club.
levenscubaclub.com.au
Other dive centres in Tasmania North & North-West
General area
No position has been published for Wynyard Offshore Reefs. The circle shows where it is likely to be, worked out from other documented sites near Wynyard. Ask a local operator for the exact site.
Dashed circle: general area (about 9 km), from other documented sites near Wynyard. 6 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Wynyard Offshore Reefs: frequently asked questions
How deep is Wynyard Offshore Reefs?
Wynyard Offshore Reefs reaches a maximum depth of 20 m, with the shallowest part at about 3 m; most of the dive is spent around 12 m.
What certification do I need to dive Wynyard Offshore Reefs?
Advanced Open Water is the recommended minimum. Open Water divers can dive the shallower section (typical depth 12 m); the full site to 20 m needs Advanced Open Water. Operators often quote Open Water. Rated intermediate because of depth beyond 18 m, cold water.
Can I shore dive Wynyard Offshore Reefs?
No, it is reached by boat (about 20 minutes). A dive centre is required: boat access only.
When is the best time to dive Wynyard Offshore Reefs?
December-April, on calm days with southerly (offshore) winds.
What marine life will I see at Wynyard Offshore Reefs?
Regularly recorded: Kelp beds, zoanthids, sponge gardens, reef fish.
What wetsuit do I need at Wynyard Offshore Reefs?
7 mm wetsuit with hood, gloves and boots (or semi-dry); drysuit common, especially May-October.
How cold is the water at Wynyard Offshore Reefs?
Typically 16-19 °C in summer and 11-13 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Wynyard Offshore Reefs?
Offshore; positions unpublished; exposed to Bass Strait weather. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Wynyard Offshore Reefs?
Royal Hobart Hospital Hyperbaric Medicine Unit (Hobart) - the only chamber in Tasmania; Launceston has none. DAN emergency hotline 1800 088 200. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Diving in Tasmania North & North-West
Bass Strait's Tasmanian shore from Devonport to Stanley and Rocky Cape is clear, cold and almost undived: sponge gardens, kelp and rock lobster around Wynyard, Boat Harbour and Sisters Beach, the Table Cape wall, and the Rocky Cape National Park reefs. Visibility of 20 m is common in settled weather.
Getting there: Fly into Devonport, Burnie or Launceston. Mostly shore dives with beach and rock entries; occasional club boat dives.
All Tasmania North & North-West dive sites and a suggested itinerary →
Sources
Data confidence: Low · Being verified: Individual site positions and depths not published; grouped entry.. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction









