Launceston Tamar Valley is home to one of the State’s three prime diving locations, and the mouth of the Tamar River has one of the best cold water marine environments in the world. From the giant kelp forests that range along its rugged coastlines, to deep sponge gardens and ships' graveyards, Tasmania offers a wide variety of diving.   

National Geographic underwater photographer David Doubilet named Tasmania his number 2 spot in the world for diving, and Barrel Rock (“The Fish Beacon”) just off Low Head at the mouth of the Tamar River, as one of the State’s best dive spots, with seagrass beds, giant kelp forests and algal reefs. Weedy seadragons and seahorses are common in our temperate waters, and where else could you go diving and find crayfish or abalone between the rocky boulders of a reef?

There’s a range of dives to suit all levels, from easy shore and night dives at Kelso Jetty, to the numerous shipwrecks off Hebe Reef, where pieces of cargo and wreckage are still visible, some dating back to the 1800’s. At Barren Joey, you can dive amongst Tasmania’s largest seal colony – local diver Geoff Stubbs says “it’s like an underwater circus”. Or take a dive charter to the new site just east of Tenth Island on the north coast; it’s one of Tasmania's premier dive sites, in 20 metres with very good visibility. 

For more infofmation:

Seal and Sea Charters www.sealandsea.com (03) 6382 3452

Go Dive www.godivetassie.com (03) 6331 6608

C.H. Smith Marine – equipment hire and sales (03) 6331 9044

The Underwater Centre - for recreational diver training www.underwaterctr.com.au