Here is one solution I found that works on Google Colab:

import pandas as pd
import tensorflow as tf
#Read the file to a pandas object
data=pd.read_csv('filedir')
#convert the pandas object to a tensor
data=tf.convert_to_tensor(data)
type(data)

This will print something like:

tensorflow.python.framework.ops.Tensor

I've converted my Pandas dataframe to a Numpy array using df.values

Now, using

dataVar_tensor = tf.constant(dataVar, dtype = tf.float32, shape=[15780,9])
depth_tensor = tf.constant(depth, 'float32',shape=[15780,1])

seems to work. I can't say it does definitively because I have other hurdles to overcome to get my code working, but it's hopefully a step in the right direction. Thanks for all your help

As an aside, my trials of getting the tutorial to work on my own data are continued in my next question Converting TensorFlow tutorial to work with my own data

The following works easily based on numpy array input data:

import tensorflow as tf
import numpy as np
a = np.array([1,2,3])
with tf.Session() as sess:
    tf.global_variables_initializer().run()

    dataVar = tf.constant(a)
    print(dataVar.eval())

-> [1 2 3]

Don't forget to start the session and run() or eval() your tensor object to see its content; otherwise it will just give you its generic description.

I suspect that since your data is in the DataFrame rather than a simply array, you need to experiment with the shape parameter of tf.constant(), which you are currently not specifying, in order to help it understand the dimensionality of the DataFrame and deal with its indices, etc.?