Tasman Peninsula & Eaglehawk Neck · Tasmania

SS Nord

A steamer lost in 1915, lying around 42 metres off the Tasman Peninsula.

Wreck
advanced
technical

The SS Nord, a steamer lost in 1915, lies around 42 metres according to official Tasmanian tourism information, putting much of the wreck beyond ordinary entry-level recreational limits.

The wreck is largely intact and well preserved in the cold water, and it is among the most significant wreck dives in Tasmania.

Honest coverage has to separate recreational observation of the shallower structure from the deep-diving requirements, decompression planning and technical options that reaching the rest of the wreck involves.

Technical wreck diving, represented by an AI-generated editorial image.

Max depth

45 m

typically 42 m

Access

boat

Current

variable

Water temp

11–17°C

Level

technical

Depth range at SS Nord, against standard recreational training limits. Route selection and conditions change the actual profile.

Diving profile

Region	Tasman Peninsula & Eaglehawk Neck
State	Tasmania
Access	boat
Site type	wreck
Minimum depth	30 m
Typical depth	42 m
Maximum depth	45 m
Current	variable
Visibility	Commonly 10–25 m
Water temperature	Roughly 11–17°C
Experience level	advanced, technical

These are guidance categories, not guarantees. Conditions on the day, and an operator’s own requirements, override any classification here.

Marine life

sponge and soft coral colonisation
butterfly perch
crayfish
temperate reef fish
occasional seals

Access

Boat access from Eaglehawk Neck.
Exposed location — weather-dependent.
Depth requires appropriate training and gas planning.

Hazards

depth beyond recreational limits
cold water extending decompression obligations
current
overhead if penetration is attempted
limited bottom time

Operators servicing this site

Businesses documented as regularly diving this site. Only operators we have established a connection for are listed.

Eaglehawk Dive CentreThe principal operation at Eaglehawk Neck, servicing the Tasman Peninsula's sea caves, walls and deeper wrecks.

Training that is genuinely useful here

Not a list of everything available — the qualifications that actually change what you can do at this site.

Deep DiverExtending recreational limits to 40 metres, with the gas planning and narcosis awareness that requires.Advanced NitroxHigh-oxygen decompression gases and oxygen-clean equipment — not ordinary recreational Nitrox.Decompression ProceduresPlanning and executing dives with a mandatory decompression obligation.Trimix DiverAdding helium to manage narcosis, oxygen exposure and gas density at depth.Drysuit DiverUsing a drysuit as a second buoyancy system — essential for serious cold-water diving in southern Australia.

Technical background

Technical Dive Centres in AustraliaWhy 'technical' is not one capability, and how to compare facilities service by service.Decompression DivingWhen the option of a direct ascent is deliberately given up, and what that changes.TrimixHelium in the breathing mix — and the gas logistics that determine whether a trip is possible.Technical Gas in AustraliaAir, Nitrox, oxygen, helium and Trimix — what to verify and where it is actually available.

Related dive sites

Worth reading alongside this one.

Cathedral CaveAn enormous dolerite sea cave on the Tasman Peninsula, large enough to surface inside.Waterfall BayDolerite walls, sea caves and giant kelp beneath some of Australia's highest sea cliffs.Ships' GraveyardNumerous vessels deliberately scuttled outside Port Phillip Bay across a wide depth range.

Dive sites nearby

Other documented sites within range, nearest first — useful for building a trip rather than a single dive.

Cathedral Cave · 10 kmAn enormous dolerite sea cave on the Tasman Peninsula, large enough to surface inside.Waterfall Bay · 12 kmDolerite walls, sea caves and giant kelp beneath some of Australia's highest sea cliffs.D'Entrecasteaux Channel · 63 kmSheltered channel diving near Hobart, with jetties, reefs and handfish habitat.

Other dive businesses in the area

Not documented as servicing this site, but close enough to be useful for fills, hire or advice.

Go Dive TasmaniaA Tasmanian business providing training, equipment and service support for cold-water diving.Tasmania Tech and Dive CentreThe Tasmanian operation most clearly associated with technical diving services, spanning recreational and technical training with technical gas support.The Dive Shop HobartA Hobart equipment and service business supporting local cold-water divers.Tasmanian Divers SouthA southern Tasmanian operation serving the Hobart region and surrounding diving.

Location

SS Nord, Tasman Peninsula & Eaglehawk Neck, Tasmania.

Frequently asked questions

How deep is SS Nord?

Depths range from around 30 metres to roughly 45 metres, with a typical profile around 42 metres. Conditions and route selection change this considerably.

Is SS Nord suitable for beginners?

It is better approached with experience beyond entry level. Depth, current or exposure make this demanding regardless of what a certification card permits. Discuss your recent diving honestly with the operator rather than relying on certification alone.

How do you get to SS Nord?

Access is boat based. Boat access from Eaglehawk Neck.

Is there current at SS Nord?

Current is recorded as variable. Conditions vary daily and should be checked close to the day.

What will I see at SS Nord?

Commonly reported marine life includes sponge and soft coral colonisation, butterfly perch, crayfish, temperate reef fish, occasional seals. Sightings are never guaranteed.

When is the best time to dive SS Nord?

Conditions vary through the year. Visibility is commonly 10–25 m. Check with local operators close to your dates.

Where is SS Nord?

SS Nord is in the Tasman Peninsula & Eaglehawk Neck region of Tasmania.

Last researched: September 2026. Dive businesses change frequently — confirm current services, prices and requirements directly with the operator before booking.