Maria Island Marine Reserve offers something rare along Tasmania's east coast: a protected underwater playground where beginners can ease into diving without the pressure of challenging conditions. You can walk straight in from the shore and find yourself exploring shallow seagrass beds within minutes, perfect for getting comfortable with your equipment and buoyancy. As you gain confidence, dense kelp forests start at modest depths, their golden-brown fronds swaying in the current like an underwater forest. Various reef species make their homes among the rocks and kelp, giving you plenty to observe while you focus on your skills. The water is genuinely clear, with visibility ranging from 12 to 40 metres, so you will see plenty even if you stay shallow. The reserve protects depths down to 40 metres, though as a beginner you will stick to much shallower areas. Water temperature stays cold year-round, so a good wetsuit or drysuit is essential. Currents change throughout the day, so check local conditions before entering. You can dive here any month of the year, and the site works equally well as a shore dive or from a boat if you prefer.

Painted Cliffs is a shallow, calm shore dive that suits beginners well. You enter directly from the shore and stay within 1 to 5 metres of the surface, so there is no need to worry about depth. Visibility can reach up to 30 metres on good days, though it varies considerably. Currents are mild, making this a relaxed dive. The reef hosts colourful sponges and jewel anemones, and you have a reasonable chance of spotting Port Jackson sharks, wobbegongs, blue-spotted stingrays, and large lobsters tucked into the reef. Banded morwong, bastard trumpeter, and boarfish are also common. Come prepared for cold water regardless of the season.

Spring Beach is a straightforward shore dive along Tasmania's coastline, suited to beginners building confidence in open water. The reef sits at a comfortable 6 to 7 metres, giving you plenty of time to explore without worrying about depth. Visibility is variable, so conditions can change from visit to visit, and currents shift too, so it pays to check conditions before you get in the water. Rip currents are a known hazard here, so take a moment to read the water before entering. Various reef species make their home along the bottom, rewarding patient observers who take their time.

Millingons Beach is a straightforward shore dive that suits beginners well. You enter directly from the beach and work your way down to depths of 5 to 12 metres, where visibility typically runs 5 to 12 metres. The current is mild, so you can take your time exploring without fighting the water. Keep an eye on the sandy bottom and surrounding reef for flathead resting motionless where they blend into the substrate, and look out for blue wrasse, box fish, and various molluscs as you move through the site. Come prepared for cold Tasmanian water regardless of the season, as a good wetsuit is essential here.

The Troy D is a scuttled vessel sitting in 18 to 24 metres off Maria Island, purpose-sunk to create an artificial reef and now well-established as a wreck dive worth planning around. Visibility runs 10 to 20 metres, and with only mild current, you can spend proper time exploring the structure rather than fighting conditions. Boarfish and cuttlefish are regulars around the hull, while moray eels and grouper tend to hold in the darker recesses. Seals occasionally pass through, adding some unpredictability. The overhead environment demands solid buoyancy and a torch, and the cold water here is non-negotiable, so a quality wetsuit or drysuit is essential.

Mayfield Bay Conservation Area is a shore entry site in Tasmania where the chance of spotting seals, penguins, weedy seadragons, and dolphins makes for an genuinely memorable shallow-water experience. The water is shallow and generally calm, making it approachable for beginners, though visibility can vary so conditions are worth checking before you go. Water temperature runs cold, as is typical for Tasmania, so a good wetsuit is essential. Be aware that rip currents can develop, so always read the water carefully before entering and stay within your comfort zone.

Ile de Phoques is defined by its resident Australian fur seals, which turn cave and cavern dives here into something genuinely memorable. Depths run from the surface to 20 metres, and visibility regularly reaches 40 metres in these cold, clear Tasmanian waters. Current is variable, so check conditions before dropping in, and treat the overhead environments in the caves with appropriate respect. Dolphins and whales pass through seasonally, and weedy seadragons reward patient divers who search the reef carefully. Best visited between March and September when conditions are most reliable.

Spiky Beach is a gentle shore entry reef suited to beginners looking to build confidence in Tasmanian waters. The water is shallow and calm, making it a forgiving spot to take your time and look closely at what lives among the reef. Visibility varies, so conditions can differ between visits. Anemones, shells, and delicate aquatic plants reward slow, careful exploration. The current runs mild, so you won't need to fight for position. Come prepared for cold water, and watch where you put your hands and fins, as the reef has sharp surfaces that can catch you off guard.