Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving Web Site
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Dive Related Equipment
Shearwater Predator and Heinrichs Weikamp OSTC 2N
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Purchase of New Dive Boat
My Dive Boat - Mak Cat
My Old Dive Boat - Le Scat
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Make Your Own Car Tank Rack

Marine Life
Rarer Sydney Marine Life
Bare Island Pygmy Pipe Horses
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Bare Island Marine Life
Encounter with Southern Right Whale and Calf

Other Dive Info
How Weather Affects Diving in Sydney
Visibility and Wave Averages in Sydney
Waves and Diving
Diving Weather and Sea Conditions
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Dive Accidents and Incidents
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Noel Hitchins 1951-2005
Lloyd Bridges - Mike Nelson in Sea Hunt
My Yachting Adventures
Below is a list of links to the main pages about my yacht, Catlypso and My Yachting Adventures:
  • Purchase of Catlypso
  • Details about Catlypso
  • Cleaning/Repairing Catlypso
  • My Yachting Adventures.
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    Michael's 4WD Trips
    Click here for a list of my Four Wheel Drive and Camping Trips.
    Home Brewing
    Click here for an article about Home Brewing.
    Sydney Dive Site Hints
    "Port Jackson sharks are found in large numbers in late Winter at The Split"
    Bicheno General Information
    The eastern coastline of Tasmania is one of the most wonderous places I have visited, either in Australia or overseas. The scenery above the water is simply spectacular in spots, and just brilliant everywhere else. There are no cities along this section of the coast, only a few small towns. Probably the pick of the towns, at least as far as Kelly and I am concerned, is Bicheno.

    Bicheno is located 177 kilometres north-east of Hobart and it takes about two hours to drive there from the City (a bit less from the airport). Bicheno, like a lot of old towns on the southern coastline of Australia, was a whaling town. Luckily that era has ended and it is now well known for its diving and wildlife.

    Governor Island
    Governor Island and the boat harbour
    The dive sites are mostly on the far side of the rocks

    All the diving here is done within a few hundred metres of the boat ramp. There is a series of rocks off the ramp that create a small protected harbour and channel. The outside of the rocks is where the vast majority of the diving is done.

    When Kelly and I dived here we dived with Bruce from Bicheno Dive Centre (the only operator). After putting our gear together and onto the truck, you get into your wetsuit and are driven down to the boat ramp. Here you load the tanks etc onto the boat and climb aboard. The boat is launched and within a couple of minutes you are at the dive site.

    The boat is a large cat that has heaps of room and is very stable. You get a great dive briefing and there is a guide on all dives.

    Bicheno Dive BoatBicheno
    The Bicheno Dive Centre BoatBicheno from the lookout

    After the dive you return back to the shop in the shop's vehicle and unload and wash your gear. There is even a hot shower outside to wash yourself (and your wetsuit). There is a load of hanging space to dry everything after the dive.

    There is basic accommodation at the dive shop. In town, there are a number of motels to pick from. As well, you can rent a house as we did in February 2009 when we went there again with our dive club.

    There are quite a few cafes and restaurants, our favourite the first time was Rose's but the second time it was not too good. The bakery was much better, with good pies. There is a supermarket, a butcher (fantastic but expensive sausages) and other shops so you can cook your own.

    Other things to do are to walk to the lookout east of the town centre (good views over the dive sites), go to the wharf and look for penguins (we saw one a few metres off the wharf) and drive to Freycinet National Park and do some walks (great for your last day before flying home, do the Wineglass Bay walk and then across to Hazard Beach and back via the coast - see my 4WD article for photos and information).

    Finally, Bruce is one of the friendliest dive shop owners I have ever met (and I have met a lot) and I well recommend his services. NOTE: Dive shop has now closed down as Bruce could not sell it.

    Click here to read some more about the dive sites.

    Copyright © Michael McFadyen 1990 to 2024
    Non-commercial use of an article or photograph is permitted with appropriate URL reference to this site.
    Dive shops, dive operators, publications and government departments cannot use anything without first seeking and receiving approval from Michael McFadyen.
    This web site has been wholly thought up, designed, constructed and funded for almost 30 years by Michael McFadyen without any help from the Australian Dive Industry.
    Website created 1996!