Fortesque Bay Giant Kelp Forest (Tasman Peninsula)
Bedded deep inside the Tasman National Park, Fortesque Bay is one of the most beautiful campsites in Tasmania. The bay is accessible by car, driving south of Eaglehawk Neck and through the small township of Taranna and on past the Tasmanian Devil Park. I would highly recommend stopping and  checking out our local icon in action, and even have the chance to feed them. After cruising through regrowth forests you come into the gorgeous Fortesque Bay, surrounded by lush beach, campsites, amenities, and paths that trek off on half day or multiday bushwalks.

But we are here to talk about bubbling. Shore dives are just as easy here as dropping in from a boat. Looking out from the boat ramp you can see a rocky point to the right, 100m around the Cape Hauy track. Once kitted up and in the water it is amazing. The entire bay hits a maximum depth of 22m with the average depth at a perfect 12m. With good visibility hitting 10m-12m, you swim comfortably through the forests of Giant Kelp, stretching from the flourishing rocky reef up into the sunlight, only just breaking the surface enough to make the kelp visible from the shore at slack tide.

A family of Draughtboard Sharks rest on the bottom, docile and harmless, while the odd Seadragon can be seen frolicking through the shallows nearer shore. Wrasse and jellies are abundant, and southern rock lobster and abalone battle for prime position amongst the rocks. As the warmer waters arive throughout January to March Fortesque is also home to seals and giant rays, whose wingspan can stretch wider than 2.5m in length.

How about dive gear?
The Eaglehawk Dive Centre is the closest, and only dive centre on the Peninsula. There are located back above Pirates Bay and have plenty of gear available. Tank fills are $10 each, and they have a large range of wetsuits, regs, tanks, weight belts and anything you need to get under the water. They also run courses from Open Water right through to Dive Master, and if you ask nicely they can even take you on a few cave dives through Cathedral… but thats another article in itself!

If you are diving Fortesque, make sure you take enough air as the dive centre is a decent 40 minute drive from the campsite which can blow out a whole days diving if you need to make a number of trips. Best to rent a few tanks.

Where should I stay?
The Eaglehawk Dive Centre actually rent out rooms in their dive cabins for around $30 a person, per night (if you fill a room with 6). By far the best way to experience Fortesque Bay is to camp onsite. Camping is $5 per night as the bay is inside the national park but the sites are well looked after, clean, have running water near, BBQ areas, and toilets.

I spend the majority of my time in Tasmanian, diving the Fortesque Bay area and will never get tired of dropping in and exploring the bay. This site is a MUST for any diver hitting the temperate waters of Tasmania. My personal favourite.