Jacko's Cave, Tasman Hauler and Henry Bolte
Jacko's Cave in Eden is close to both the Tasman Hauler and Henry Bolte
tugs (photos of the tugs are also below). It is only a 10 minute boat
ride south of the Eden Wharf with all three of the dive sites being less
than 500m from each other. The cave called Jacko's Cave goes through the
middle of a bommie around 100m from the rocky shore with the total length
of the cave being around 40m from end to end. To find the cave you swim
along a vertical wall with colorful sea tulips and gorgonian fans as shown
in the picture below, until you reach the deeper entrance to the cave
in 17m of water.
The deep entrance is very large, high and is 4 times wider than this
photo shows. The cave quickly narrows down and becomes silty, however
the caves full length the cave stays wide with the roof ever narrowing
down the further you enter. 37° 07' 08"S 149° 58' 16"E
(using AUS66 as datum).
The shallow entrance is in around 10m of water and is less than a meter
high for the last 15-20m of the cave. The divers tank is touching the
roof and his belly is just touching the rock floor of the cave.
Mid way along the cave two wobbygong sharks around 1.5m sleep until our
torches wake them up.
A large cuttle calls the cave home.
Eastern Blue Devil in a ledge close to the deep entrance.
The shallow entrance of the cave, just big enough to squeeze out of if
your not too big a diver.
The cave has some nice gorgonian fans and other interesting growth in
the cave.
Another shot showing how tight the cave becomes towards the end.
The ute waiting for all the empty tanks to be filled before the next
trip out in the boat.
The Tasman Hauler.
Engine room of the Tasman Hauler in Eden / Merimbula NSW.
Nice growth on the Tasman.
Engine Hold.
Front area of the Tasman.
The prop of the Tasman Hauler.
The Tasman hauler is the tug which is the most intact of two and has
lots of penetration, in fact you can enter a hold and swim up each level
without exiting the wreck. Perfect for a 30m multi-level dive.
A jeweled Anemone.
The Henry Bolte wreck is broken up and has limited penetration due to
the hull being on it's side.
The prop of the Henry Bolte.
The smaller of the two boats owned by Merimbula Divers Lodge, the only
dive operator in the area.
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