Hopkins Island Sea Lion Colony
Dive site
Hopkins Island in Boston Bay hosts a resident Australian sea lion colony that interacts directly with snorkellers and divers in the shallows. Pups and juveniles are curious and playful, spiralling around divers in the kelp beds while adults rest on the rocks above. The site sits within a conservation zone and is accessible only with a permitted operator. Visibility varies with swell but the wildlife encounters are exceptional even in low vis.
Conditions
Depth
2 to 12 m
Good for beginners
Current
Usually gentle
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
3 to 8 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
13 to 20°C
7mm wetsuit with hood
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 18 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Vis (m) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Current | calm | calm | calm | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | calm | calm |
Field journal
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