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WATERFALL CAVES

Australia’s biggest network of underwater sea caves is beneath Waterfall Bay’s spectacular towering cliffs.

The underwater topography of the cliffs in Waterfall Bay, on the Tasman Peninsula, is the result of thousands of years of erosion by the sea.

Now, there is a labyrinth of caves, caverns, tunnels, swim throughs and canyons offering scuba divers a tantalising awesome underwater experience.

The largest cave is Cathedral Dome, so named because its entrance is similar to the archway of a cathedral.
The top of the Cathedral Dome is in five metres (15’) and the floor of the cave is 21 metres (70’) and it leads into an intricate system consisting of numerous spectacular areas known by names such as the Catacombs, the Devils Tonsils, Revelation Bend, Skull Cave and the Back Door.

Inside this vast system, passages are often dark and barren, and penetration beyond the light zone requires a guide and a good underwater torch with a backup is essential.

On the seafloor amongst the prolific kelp, divers can find elusive weedy seadragons as well as a host of other fascinating bottom dwellers, including abalone, rock lobster, and brightly coloured sea stars and sponges.

There are often large schools of bullseyes and splendid perch near the cave entrance and other fish life includes numerous long-snout boarfish as well as many other species.

The lack of direct sunlight in the caves enhances the incredible biodiversity, cave walls are covered in colourful invertebrate life including bright yellow zoanthids, colourful soft corals and sponges, some of which are usually only found in deeper water.

Lucky divers are sometimes joined by visiting seals and dolphins, and in October to December and March to June may also witness humpback whales on their migratory route to and from Antarctica.

Calm seas are required which makes it great winter diving, summer can sometimes be problematic due to the onshore easterly winds present at that time of the year.

Cathedral Cave is an awesome underwater experience requiring excellent buoyancy skills.

Special thanks to Aaron Colles, Go Dive Tasmania.
Copyright © 2024 Steve Sinclair

OTHER GREAT DIVES WHILE YOU ARE THERE
Giant Kelp Forest, SS Nord, Sister Rocks, Hippolyte Rock Seals and Port Arthur.

2026 GREAT AUSTRALIAN DIVE CHALLENGE
Dive Registration
To register this dive for validation, go to: www.50greatdives.com.
NOTE: Entrants should do this dive with one of the following preferred dive services.

DIVE SERVICES

OTHER SERVICES

DIVE TRAVEL SERVICES

WATER TEMPERATURES: