Southern Cross Reef lies roughly 3.5 kilometres offshore from Bridport in Anderson's Bay, a submerged granite and reef system characteristic of Tasmania's Great Southern Reef. The area is renowned among local fishers and divers as a bait-rich marine hotspot where upwellings and reef structure concentrate fish life. In calm summer conditions, visibility can be excellent over the boulder-strewn bottom, with kelp forests, sponge gardens, and gutters providing habitat for striped trumpeter, wrasse, and schools of Australian salmon. Its offshore position means it is strictly a boat-access destination for experienced snorkellers, not for the faint-hearted — cold temperate water (12–16°C), exposure to easterly swells, and the occasional visit from mako sharks make this an advanced-only spot suited to those with thick wetsuits and solid open-water experience.
Southern Cross Reef
It's a go.
Showing last known conditions
Last evaluated
DANGER: Explicit Risks Present
Southern Cross Reef has hazards marked as danger. Entering the water here means you may face serious risks to your personal safety.
- Open ocean swells danger
The reef is exposed to the open ocean; southerly and easterly swells can build rapidly, creating dangerous surge conditions over the reef.
The spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
High risk: Open ocean swells
The reef is exposed to the open ocean; southerly and easterly swells can build rapidly, creating dangerous surge conditions over the reef.
Moderate risk: Strong tidal currents
Strong tidal currents flow through this offshore reef system, especially during spring tides, making it difficult to hold position while snorkelling.
Moderate risk: Cold water temperature
Summer water temperatures range from 12–16°C. Hypothermia risk for anyone without a thick wetsuit (7 mm recommended).
Low risk: Pelagic shark presence (mako)
Makos and other pelagic sharks patrol these bait-rich waters during peak summer months. Presence is generally not aggressive toward snorkellers but warrants caution.
Low risk: Boat traffic and fishing activity
The reef is an active fishing ground; boat traffic and fishing lines present hazards for snorkellers. A surface marker buoy is strongly recommended.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
Gallery
Be the first to share a photo
No photos yet — yours could be the first.
Photos are reviewed by moderators before they appear.
Getting in
Located roughly 3.5 km (just over 2 miles) offshore from Bridport in Anderson's Bay, North East Tasmania. Best accessed by private boat launched from the Bridport boat ramp. The reef is a well-known fishing ground and requires a suitable vessel and local knowledge of the reef's exact position.
Parking available adjacent to the Bridport boat ramp and foreshore area.
No direct fee for the reef; standard boat launching fees may apply at the Bridport foreshore ramp.
Spot Map
Community
Trust
Is this spot real, accurate, still loved?
Spots near Tasmania
No nearby spots yet.
Quick verify
One tap helps the community keep this spot honest.
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.