The Hairy Wall is a spectacular granite cliff-face plunging to 40m on the eastern side of Governor Island, within the Governor Island Marine Reserve off Bicheno on Tasmania's northeast coast. Named for its dense carpet of sea whips, colourful sponges, and soft corals that cover the steep drop-off, this site is a living tapestry of temperate marine invertebrates. The wall runs parallel to Governor Island and is often used as the start or end point for other dives like The Canyon and Rose Garden. Its exposed position means visibility is often better than nearby sites thanks to gentle currents that flush the area. The sheer diversity of invertebrate life — basket stars, jewel anemones, sea fans, and gorgonians — makes every visit a discovery.
Hairy Wall
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Wave Height 0.0 mSwell Period 11 sWind Speed 8.6 knPrecipitation 0.1 mmTidal Phase slack
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Depth hazard
Maximum depth reaches 40m. Easy to accidentally descend beyond 40m at the base of the wall. Requires careful depth monitoring.
Moderate risk: Cold water temperature
Temperate waters averaging 12.7°C in winter to 16.9°C in summer. Adequate thermal protection is essential year-round.
Low risk: Strong currents
Moderate currents can flush the area, improving visibility but requiring good fitness and buoyancy control.
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Getting in
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Entry
The Hairy Wall lies on the eastern side of Governor Island, approximately 2 km east of Bicheno on Tasmania's northeast coast. Access is by boat only — numerous dive operators in Bicheno offer guided trips to the site (e.g. Go Dive Tasmania, Bicheno Dive Centre). The site is within the Governor Island Marine Reserve (no-take zone).
Parking & facilities
Park at the Bicheno Boat Ramp or the car park near the Bicheno foreshore. From there, launch or meet your dive boat for the short trip out to Governor Island.
parkingtoilets
No entry fee to the marine reserve. Boat charter/dive tour fees apply if booking with an operator.
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports