Tasmania FAQs
Tasmania: The Land Below the Land Down Under
INTRODUCTION
We are so glad you are joining us as we return to Tasmania and its diverse and unusual marine habitats. We are very excited to share another incredible land and sea adventure.
TRIP INFORMATION AND LOGISTICS
Flights, Hotels, Transfers, Excursions & Insurance
By now everyone should be booking their flights for arrival in Hobart. As you are flying from the US, you will need to depart 2 days earlier due to the date line change. Please forward your flight info when you have it. You should arrive by 1:00 so we can get a shuttle pick up and drive to the Eaglehawk area which is about 90 minutes from Hobart. In addition to the shuttle for our luggage, we will also pick up two vans for our transportation while in the Eaglehawk area. Faith will arrive a day early and be waiting for you when you arrive.
Once everyone arrives, we will drive to our hotel in Eaglehawk where we will stay for 6 nights- Lufra Hotel. As our area is very remote, this is really the only hotel and restaurant near the dive center. Fortunately, the rooms are very nice, food is really good, and the views are fantastic! After getting settled in, we will head to the dive store to do the introductory paperwork and have a welcome barbeque.
After diving for 6 days, we will head back to Hobart from where we will base our hiking/outdoor activities. We will have 4 nights there and 3 very full days of guided tours plus time to explore. Details follow later in this document.
INSURANCE: We strongly recommend that everyone carry full travel and cancellation insurance as we cannot be held liable for delays which occur during the trip, nor any delays or cancellations of the flights, accommodation, tours and transfers we organize on your behalf.
We work in partnership with DAN which offers you a selection of competitively priced dive and travel insurance policies, including short term and multiple trip policies.
Dive insurance is REQUIRED of all participants. Again, we recommend DAN dive insurance though policies equivalent to DAN’s with at least Premium preferred level of coverage are ok as well. In addition to providing coverage in the unlikely event of a diving accident, combined with your DAN membership you are covered for medical evacuation to appropriate medical care for ANY emergency not just diving related incidents. This type of coverage is also required. Please provide proof of insurance on your trip application.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Time Zone
The local time is 19 hours ahead of US Pacific Time/16 hours ahead of Eastern Time Zone.
Visa and Passports
Tasmania is part of Australia so US, Canadian, and EU citizens can stay for 6 months with only a quick online visa. Please make sure that your passport has validity of at least 6 months depending on nationality beyond the period you intend to stay in Tasmania. If you are travelling with medication, please bring your physician’s prescription with you. Covid vaccination is required as is a negative PCR test taken no more than 3 days prior to departure for Australia.
Money Matters
The local currency is the Australian Dollar. Current exchange rate is .78 US to $1.00 AU so you will find most things are very well priced for US customers. There are plenty of ATMs in Hobart. We recommend getting Australian dollars at the airport ATM before heading to the Eaglehawk area as there are few ATMs there. However, credit cards are commonly accepted everywhere and can be used for most everything.
Health
Medical care is generally very good and medical infrastructure is comparable to what you would find in most developed countries. The most modern facilities are located in Hobart. There is a recompression chamber in Hobart as well.
Climate and Weather
Climate is very temperate. We will be there in early fall. Temperatures range from 55-75 degrees with the sun being quite warm. The location on the edge of the Southern Ocean means the weather can be quite variable. Bring a jacket and some type of rain or shower protection. As always, be ready to layer to accommodate weather changes.
Water Temperature and Exposure Suits
Water temperature runs about 58-60 degrees. For most this is a drysuit with moderate insulation (DUI Powerstretch or Actionwear equivalent). Some people may be able to do a 7mm wetsuit. 2 nd dives might be short though. In general, bring what you feel most comfortable in.
Food and Drink
Food in Tasmania is excellent. Most of the food is locally sourced and grown organically. Fish is harvested in a sustainable manner. The Lufra Hotel will serve a heavy continental breakfast- pastries, breads, hard boiled eggs, yogurts, granola, fruit, peanut butter etc. On the boat, we will have hot soups/drinks and snacks including small sandwiches from the hotel. The hotel restaurant will be our main source for dinner as there are few options in the area. Fortunately, the food is quite good and reasonably priced. The hotel also has a café that serves sandwiches and other lunch fare as well as excellent espresso and other coffee drinks.
Wine and beer are excellent in Tasmania and are also locally produced. Prices are reasonable. We will stop on the way to the hotel and give everyone time to buy supplies for their rooms which are equipped with a small kitchen and a washer/dryer combo. There is a small bar at the hotel open until about 10-11pm.
We will have dinner one or two nights in Port Arthur at the historic prison. Dinners in Hobart will be in the historic Salamanca district which is loaded with stores, bars and restaurants.
Clothing and Footwear
Dress in Tasmania is very casual. Even in nice restaurants, jeans and t-shirts are common. We recommend casual shirts and pants for every day wear. Bring a good pair of walking shoes especially if you want to do some of the more aggressive hikes. There are laundry facilities at the hotel and dive center. The temperature does not fluctuate much in Tasmania with typical daytime temps ranging from 60-75 and evening temperatures ranging from 50-65. Bring a light jacket and rain gear.
Electricity
The plugs in Australia have two flat metal pins shaped like a “V” and some may contain a third flat pin in the center as a ground.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted inside public areas in Tasmania nor is it permitted on the boat.
SAFETY ON BOARD
Emergency Management & Equipment
We will be diving off small (24’) open boats with limited space so while there are the normal basics of life jackets and flares etc., there is no room for a life raft. There will be a complete first aid kit and oxygen on board, and there is a chamber in Hobart. The captain and trip leaders are trained in emergency first aid for divers. There is a recall system in the event of an emergency or in the event a white shark is seen. There is a clinic nearby if anyone does not feel well and needs non-diving related treatment.
Staying Connected
The hotels will all have WiFi and it is reasonably reliable and fast even in Eaglehawk. Cell reception is also reasonably good in most areas. Check your cell provider for a package plan as per minute rates are very high.
DIVING INFORMATION
Diving Infrastructure
Diving in Tasmania is relatively basic in that the charter boats are small with few amenities. We will leave each morning, around 8, to go to the dive store which is about 1.5 miles from the hotel. Our dive equipment will be stored there. Each morning we will set up our tanks and load into the equipment trailer. From there, they will bring us and our equipment to the dock where we will load the 2 boats- 6 persons each. The boat will supply hot soup, drinks and snacks. We will stay out for two dives with an option on some days to go back out for a third dive. There are no time limits on the dives nor are they rushing you back into the water for a second dive. Please be aware there is no bathroom on the boat and dives are not guided. Guides are available for an additional charge. For the time period we are there, we will be their only customers so they are very flexible. You can expect to be back no later than 2pm so there will be time for afternoon activities.
Nitrox is available but expensive due to the price for oxygen and the partial pressure fill system. Most dives are less than 80’ with the exception of the Nord and the deep pinnacles (more below). Please let us know if you would like to use nitrox, and if so, on only some or all of the dives, so the dive center knows how much gas to purchase in advance.
Please note that the use of a dive computer and safety sausage is compulsory. For safety reasons, we ask all guests to always dive within the limits of their dive computer and make a safety stop at the end of each dive.
12 liter steel tanks (15 liter tanks by special request and depending on availability), weight belts and weights are provided free of charge.
Tasmania offers a wide range of diving conditions- deep, shallow, wreck, cavern and reef, etc. The water temperature is around 60 degrees with little thermocline. Visibility ranges from 20-80’. There is some current possible but that is mostly a surface issue with little current underwater. Here are a few of the signature dives of the area:
Weedy Sea Dragons
The weedy seadragon is only found in Southern Australia, and the ones in Tasmania are the largest and most colorful. They have a reddish brown color with hints of deep blue, purple and yellow along with many tiny white dots all along the body. Their small leaf like appendages, coloration and shape mean they are incredibly well camouflaged. They range in size from 10-20” long. Like seahorses, the male carries the eggs until they hatch and can be identified by the purple grape under the tail. These amazing creatures are well worth the effort to find and can be found at several sites in the area. They are most common in areas with kelp.
Fur Seals
The New Zealand Fur Seal is relatively common in Tasmania and is playful and unafraid of divers. The young ones want to interact and will be more likely to engage if you make eye contact and be confident in your movements- not tentative. They are now also seeing Australian and even Southern Fur Seals.
Caves and Caverns
The entire Tasman Peninsula is riddled with huge caves, tunnels, and canyons, particularly in the Waterfall Bay area which is known for its sea caves. The largest, Cathedral Cave, which is the largest sea cave system in Australia, has a massive entrance and extends back into smaller caverns and some tight passages and many inter connected tunnels. There is an incredible amount of invertebrate life covering the rock walls.
For those who do not like overhead environments, there are several canyons that offer the same walls covered with invertebrate life as well as great swim throughs.
Anyone with good buoyancy control can enjoy most of these tunnels though the smaller passages require more advanced training /experience.
The “NORD”
This wreck was a 280’ ship carrying case oil when she sank in 1915 after striking a sunken pinnacle. She now sits in 130’ of water and is mostly intact still. The wreck is covered with invertebrate life and is home to many fish as well. Visibility is usually very good as it is a little further from the main part of the island though it is also exposed to southerly and easterly weather. This is the most likely dive to experience current.
Magical Sponge Gardens
The dramatic ledges, walls and pinnacles around the Tasman Peninsula are home to incredible sponge gardens found below 75-80’ deep and are most colorful in the 110-130’ range. Brightly colored sponges, soft corals, sea whips etc. are often surrounded by huge schools of fish- mostly butterfly perches. Visibility is usually very good in these areas making for excellent photography. Due to the depth, a minimum of Advanced certification is required.
If you have any concerns regarding the conditions of a particular dive, please let us know.
Optional Extras
Nitrox: Price depends on O2 percentage
Dive equipment rental including neoprene drysuits and cameras
Merchandise (t-shirts, polo shirts, logbooks, etc.)
Tipping is a matter of personal choice. Should you feel that your crew has made your holiday extra special then a tip is always appreciated. Please note they can accept tips in cash only. Faith will collect for everyone in the group and give it to the dive store owner. $25 USD/day/person is a good place to start.
Underwater Photography and Videography
The crew is well versed in UW photography and videography and are happy to help with suggestions on shooting the unique life of Tasmania. Mick and Karen have decades of diving experience and incredible knowledge of the area. They are also excellent photographers and videographers. Karen is a marine biologist who worked for the Australian equivalent of NOAA for decades. She literally has written the book on Tasmanian marine life and has personally named over 30 species. Mick has been involved in the development of marine protected areas and is a consultant for governmental agencies on the environmental impact of fishing and climate change on the marine habitat. They are incredible resources and genuinely wonderful people.
It will be a continual challenge to decide what lens to use so please ask Mick for his feedback.
DIVING HEALTH
Flying after Diving
Current studies show that you should wait at least 24 hours after multiple repetitive dives before you fly. Please bear this in mind before you book your onward international or domestic flights.
Diving Insurance
Diving insurance is mandatory on all of our trips irrespective of destination. Your insurance must cover all of your scuba diving and snorkeling activities, including the costs for recompression chamber treatment and emergency air evacuation.
Diving Emergencies
In the unlikely event a dive accident occurs there is a chamber in Hobart. A specially trained emergency team is constantly standing by. Should an emergency arise, rapid response medical evacuation can be provided by helicopter. We strongly urge that all guests dive well within recognized limits, follow the captain’s advice and of course purchase specific dive insurance before their trips.
What to Bring
The following is a check list of items that you should ensure to bring with you for your trip.
Passport 3-6 month validity depending on the nationality
Travel Documents: Flight tickets - International & Domestic; hotel booking; excursions
Cash & Credit Card for emergencies: Recommended amount: $300AUD
Diving Certification & Logbook Including Nitrox Card if certified & intending to use Nitrox
Travel and Diving Insurance Documents to include emergency medical evacuation
Essential Diving Items: Especially prescription dive masks and dive computer with full battery
Toiletries & Medications: Including sunscreen & insect repellent. Inform trip leader of medical conditions
Essential Clothing Items: Swim wear, hat and lightweight jacket