Shear Rock and Shear Reef sit near the mouth of the kanamaluka/Tamar River estuary, where the river meets the wild Bass Strait swells. This is a dramatic, current-swept temperate reef system with a steep rocky wall dropping to around 24 m — a magnet for adventurous divers and strong snorkellers. The site sits just off the boat ramp near Low Head, offering a raw Tasmanian underwater landscape shaped by powerful tidal flows.
Shear Rock / Shear Reef (Tamar River)
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Wave Height 0.5 mSwell Period 5.0 sWind Speed 0.8 knPrecipitation 14 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
DANGER: Explicit Risks Present
Shear Rock / Shear Reef (Tamar River) has hazards marked as danger. Entering the water here means you may face serious risks to your personal safety.
- Strong tidal currents danger
The Tamar River estuary experiences powerful tidal flows at the river mouth, especially around the reef system near the heads.
The spot
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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High risk: Strong tidal currents
The Tamar River estuary experiences powerful tidal flows at the river mouth, especially around the reef system near the heads.
Moderate risk: Boat traffic
Close proximity to the main shipping channel and boat ramp; vessel traffic can be heavy.
Moderate risk: Deep water drop-off
The rocky reef drops steeply into deep water (24 m+), creating rapid depth changes hazardous for casual snorkellers.
Low risk: Cold water temperatures
Tasmanian temperate waters are cold year-round, increasing risk of cold shock and hypothermia without proper wetsuit.
Low risk: Shark refuge area
The Tamar River is a designated Shark Refuge Area; sharks including potentially large species are present.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
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Getting in
Boat
Entry
Located near Low Head at the mouth of the Tamar River, roughly 40 km north of Launceston. Accessible by boat launched from the Low Head boat ramp. The site is just out from the boat ramp near the river heads. Follow East Arm Road to the Low Head boat ramp area.
Parking & facilities
Parking available at the Low Head boat ramp facility.
parkingboat_ramp
No known fees for snorkelling; boat ramp use is free public access.
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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