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Dive Review of Eaglehawk Dive in
Australia

Eaglehawk Dive: "Diving in Tasmania", Apr, 2021,

by Andrew Falconer , Bunbury, AU (Top Contributor Top Contributor 51 reports with 28 Helpful votes). Report 11518.

Photos Submitted with this Report


Click on an image to see an enlarged version and captions

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 3 stars Food N/A
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 3 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments DIVING IN TASMANIA
As part of a road trip on a motorcycle round Tasmania, I did a couple of dives off the Tasman Peninsula on the East Coast with [eaglehawkdive.com.au link]
I have never dived in Tasmania before, and now that the dive shop at Bicheno has closed Eaglehawk Nek seemed the best alternative.
Location of the dive sites. The Candlestick

I stayed at the bunk bed accommodation provided at the dive centre ($30 per night) and had dinner at the local pub. Seafood in Tasmania is very good. Travelling on a bike I had to hire all the gear except my dive computer and camera set up. The dive centre only hires wet suits (7mm two piece with hood, gloves and boots) but at 15 degrees sea temperature I would have preferred a dry suit.
As it turned out after about 30 minutes into both dives I started to feel cold, which affected my enjoyment of the dives.
The dive boat was a shark cat and the harbour where we got on board was about 5 km from the dive centre. The weather and sea conditions were as good as it gets with sunshine, no wind and a flat sea.
We made the short trip along the spectacular coastline to “the Candlestick” and saw some seals on the rocks and in the water.

My diving companions were a young inexperienced Belgian girl and an older experienced Tasmanian man (he had a dry suit). Because of the inexperienced diver, the first dive was meant to be very easy and we jumped in not far from fur seals, with the intention of interacting with them. With no guide, the Tasmanian diver was the de facto leader. However after 45 minutes underwater, we failed to see a single seal, only seaweed, rocks a few fish.
Plenty of seaweed and rocks, no seals. The view above the water better than under


I came out of the dive feeling really cold, and turned down the offer of snorkeling with the seals (who were not far away) during the surface interval. The young Belgian girl was more adventurous and literally jumped at the opportunity and had a great time.

Entrance to the Cathedral caves. Looking out from the caves
As we had all passed the buoyancy test of the first dive, we did the second dive at a large and complex cave / cavern system called Cathedral Caves not far where we started the trip. This was quite spectacular, with many openings and passages, and arch like rock formations. We didn’t go into all the caves however, including a section called “the Catacombs” My enjoyment of the dive was tempered by feeling cold again after 30 minutes.
A narrower section of the caves. Exiting the caves

Sadly the kelp forests that once grew along this part of the Tasmanian coast, have now all gone, apparently a victim of rising sea temperatures and nutrient deficiency. According to Mick the skipper of the boat, the forests had been diminishing since the turn of the century, finally vanishing in 2017 when the sea temperature peaked at 18/19 degrees. Also the species of fish have been steadily changing in recent years to more northerly temperate ones.

April 2021
Websites Eaglehawk Dive   Eaglehawk Dive

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vanuatu, South Africa, Iceland, Scotland, Norway, Cuba, Maldives, Chuuk, Galapagos, Phillipines, Sri Lanka, France, Colombia
Closest Airport Hobart Getting There Fly to Hobart, then bus or car to Eaglehawk Nek (although I was on a motorcycle)

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 15-15°C / 59-59°F Wetsuit Thickness 7
Water Visibility 5-10 M / 16-33 Ft

Dive Policy

Dive own profile ?
Enforced diving restrictions [Unspecified]
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals N/A Tropical Fish N/A
Small Critters N/A Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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