DIVE TASMANIA, DIVE HOBART – DISCOVER KELP FORESTS, WRECKS, MARINE RESERVES, SPONGE BEDS, UNIQUE MARINE LIFE

Dive calendar

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Jan 222012
 

Large schools of juvenile southern hula fish and Australian salmon have been fishy highlights at the Tinderbox Marine Reserve in the last week, and we’ve enjoyed spotting a number of basket stars and sea horses on the sponges and sea whips at our favourite dive site. With tidal range of around 1 metre,  we’ve also seen the sea pens extended and feeding in the current. Add in the gorgonia corals, and the oranges, yellows and reds have made for some really enjoyable dives.

We’re running our basic dive calendar and making changes on request ie switching Tinderbox and kelp forests depending on what people want to do, and adding in the occasional course dive. (Talk to us if you don’t see something you want to do on the day you want to do it.)

Mon 23         Tinderbox boat dives   8 am – 1 pm

Tue 24            Bruny Island kelp forests 8 am – 2 pm

Wed 25          Betsey reef and wrecks 8 am – 1 pm (max depths 22m)

Thurs 26      Tentative private booking

Fri 27           Tinderbox Marine Reserve 8 am – 1 pm

Sat 28           Tinderbox Marine Reserve 8 am – 1 pm

                        Relax on the River      6.00 – 9.30 pm (food, scenery, sunset and diving)

Sun 29          Bruny Island kelp forests 8 am – 2 pm

Mon 30        Tinderbox boat dives   8 am – 1 pm

Tue 31           Bruny Island kelp forests 8 am – 2 pm

Wed 1            Private booking

Thurs 2        Tinderbox Marine Reserve 8 am – 1 pm

                        Relax on the River      6.00 – 9.30 pm (food, scenery, sunset and diving)

Fri 3              Bruny Island kelp forests 8 am – 2 pm

 

We’re making changes to the calendar in response to requests, so keep an eye out for updates (I’ll mark the changes).

All of our boat dives depart from Hobart unless otherwise indicated.

For more info or to book any of our dives, contact me by phone or SMS on 0417 015654 or email us on divingATunderwateradventures.com.au. (If you’re visiting Tasmania, or planning to do so, you can also book through the Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre Hobart )

 Posted by Sue Wragge at 12:18 am

Ninepin Point Marine Reserve (incl Arch Rock)

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Sep 112011
 

Diving in the tannin waters of Ninepin Point Marine Reserve is an iconic Tasmanian dive experience that no diver should miss.

The waters of the Reserve are subject to high levels of tannin from the nearby Huon River. Less dense tea-coloured fresh water overlays the colder sea water and filters out light, which leads to some marine life being seen in much shallower waters than otherwise. Colours are muted and it can take some time for your eyes to adjust but whilst it can be dark, the water can be crystal clear and the sun appears as a beautiful golden glow.

The marine life is an interesting mix of algae and critters. Red algae thrive, along with green and brown seaweeds. There are the usual invertebrate species found in the Channel area – sea whips, bryozoans, sponges, hydroids, sea stars, feather stars, and more. You don’t have to look closely to see large shrimp and other crustaceans.

Fish species, such as the butterfly perch normally seen schooling on deeper reefs, can be seen in shallower water. Species succession is compressed: you see the succession of algae and invertebrates you’d expect on a deeper dive but compressed into much shallower depths. It’s the deep dive you do when you’re not doing a deep dive!

A highlight of Ninepin Point is the inclusion of Arch Rock. The small sandstone island is named for the cave that forms an arch in its centre and it’s a notable geological feature as well as being an interesting dive.

Arch Rock, part of Ninepin Point Marine Reserve

A winter visit to Arch Rock in 2002

The Ninepin Point Marine Reserve is located in the southern reaches of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. The Reserve was expanded from 60 to 731 hectares in late 2009 to include Arch Rock, which is approximately one kilometre south of Ninepin Point.

FACT FILE:
Depth – to 15m
Highlights – invertebrates, fish life, range of algae
Travel time – 90 mins
Of interest – high tannin levels due to proximity of Huon River
Gear – a good torch, SMB or surface signalling device in case of currents

More reading – Parks and Wildlife information about Ninepin Pt Marine Nature Reserve

 Posted by Sue Wragge at 3:37 pm

Tinderbox Marine Reserve

 Dive sites  2 Responses »
Aug 302011
 

Tinderbox Marine Nature Reserve is one of Tasmania’s best kept diving secrets. If you only do one dive trip with us, this should be it.

The Reserve offers wonderfully diverse diving with sponge beds, soft corals, kelp forests, weedy reef, rock ledges and crevices, seagrass, sand and silt bottoms and deep offshore reefs. It is a place that will delight photographers and anyone with an interest in marine life.

The currents and eddies along the Reserve feed sea whips, sea pens, basket stars, and corals. No-where else do you have such easy access to such special and diverse marine life.

On the rocky reefs there are encrusting corals, sponges of all shapes and colours, zoanthid, lace bryozoans, jewel anemones, not to mention sea hares, nudibranchs, sea horses and sea dragons; schools of bastard trumpeter, mackerel, pike and jackass morwong and masses of southern hula fish. Look closely and find the rarely seen red velvet fish, weed fish, draughtboard sharks and more. There are dozens of species of invertebrates, fish and algae.

Much of the best invertebrate life is in 10-15m of water, which means Tinderbox is accessible to divers of all certification levels and the longer bottom times provide excellent opportunities for photographers.

We dive several locations within the Reserve, giving you access to the highlights – the kelp forests, sponges and soft corals of the northern zone and the sea whips, gorgonias and sea pens of the south.

Tinderbox was one of Tasmania’s first Marine Reserves and was proclaimed in 1991. It is one of only two no-take reserves in SE Tasmania (the other is Ninepin Point).

FACT FILE:
Depth – to 30m
Highlights – invertebrates including soft corals and sea pens, fish life, range of algae including small kelp forests
Travel time – 30 mins
Of interest – definitely the invertebrates!
Gear – SMB or surface signalling device in case of currents, a torch can be useful

More reading – Parks and Wildlife information about Tinderbox Marine Nature Reserve or the Marine Reserves Fact Sheet that provides general information.

 Posted by Sue Wragge at 12:12 pm

Wilderness diving on Tasmania’s south coast

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Mar 302011
 

Tasmania’s south coast is a privilege to scuba dive. It’s not a place we can dive every day but on a good day awesome is an understatement.

The south coast is Tasmania at its best – spectacular above and below water, rugged, scenic, teaming with wildlife, calm and sunny one day and howling the next. (You can check out some of the above-water photos in the Underwater Adventures facebook album.)

Underwater Adventures is the only dive operator to run scuba dives in southern Tasmania. We cover the southern D’Entrecasteaux Channel, South Bruny Island, the south coast, south west and Port Davey.

This is remote diving and in this environment it’s even more critical that you’re diving with someone who routinely runs diving activities rather than fishing or general charters,  is fully equipped to manage all aspects of recreational diving, and that you’re protected by insurance for your in-water activities and not just as a passenger.

Some of our sites include:
The Friars
Partridge Island
Pineapple Rocks
Courts Island
Actaeon Islands
Recherche Bay
Southport Bay
South East Cape
Maatsuyker Island group
Pedra Branca
Mewstone Rock

Bookings are for groups only because of the travel distances involved. Please contact us to plan your diving in this spectacular area.

 Posted by Sue Wragge at 12:54 pm

Simpsons Point – sponges and seawhips

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Nov 112010
 

fish, doughboy scallop and other marine life at Simpsons Pt with Underwater Adventures

One of the best locations to see dense beds of sea whips and sponges is Simpsons Point.

The top point of South Bruny Island, Simpsons Point extends north into the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Unlike the deep water reefs off the Tasmanian east coast where sponges and sea whips are often found, this area is a complex mix of invertebrates and algae in depths ranging from 5-15m.

The tannin-rich waters and high currents encourage a range of invertebrate life. Sponges, sea fans, sea whips and other corals, bryozoans, sea stars, scallops, nudibranchs and more can be found alongside green Caulerpa and red algae.

On the tip of the point is a rocky outcrop covered in sea whips and sponges that are more exposed to current in comparison to the more sheltered reef along the eastern shore of the point.

Invertebrates and Caulerpa at Simpsons Pt with Underwater Adventures

NOTE: Good buoyancy control is essential to avoid contact with and damage to the fragile marine life. This applies equally to photographers who should note that there can be strong currents. Needless to say, we don’t anchor in this area.

FACT FILE:
Depth – to 15m
Highlights – invertebrates including sponges and sea whips, fish life
Travel time – 90 mins
Of interest – range and density of marine life, including in shallow water
Gear – a good torch, SMB or surface signalling device

 Posted by Sue Wragge at 1:02 pm
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