Dive Site: North Bommie

About North Bommie

North Bommie is a prominent coral pinnacle situated off Heron Island, within the southern Great Barrier Reef, making it a key dive location in the region. This site is celebrated for its rich marine biodiversity and intricate coral structures, forming a natural magnet for divers exploring the area. The topography features a massive coral bommie that ascends from the seabed, with its shallowest point at approximately 5 meters and extending down to 18 meters on the surrounding sand. The bommie itself is heavily encrusted with diverse hard and soft corals, including delicate plate corals, branching staghorns, sturdy table corals, and soft leather corals. Divers can navigate through numerous overhangs, ledges, and small caverns that are cut into the bommie's structure, providing shelter and exploration opportunities for various species. Marine life at North Bommie is exceptional throughout the year, with peak manta ray season from May to August. The site is frequented by reef sharks, green and loggerhead turtles, and large schools of fusiliers, sergeant majors, parrotfish, and butterflyfish. You can also spot coral trout, sweetlips, Maori wrasse, and occasionally, Queensland groupers. Macro enthusiasts will discover nudibranchs, leaf scorpionfish, anemone shrimp, and Christmas tree worms nestled within the coral. To dive North Bommie, access is exclusively by boat from the Heron Island resort beach, involving a short transit time. Divers typically enter the water via a giant stride or back roll, commencing their descent along a mooring line or performing a free descent onto the bommie's upper sections at 5 to 8 meters. The standard dive approach involves a multi-level progression, spiraling around the bommie from deeper sections to shallower areas to maximize bottom time and observation.

Dive site facts: North Bommie

Depth

5–18 m

Current

Moderate

Visibility

15–25 m

Water temperature

20–28°C

Entry

Boat / Giant stride or back roll

Level

Open Water

Dive type

Reef, big_animals, coral_garden

Region / port

Heron Island, Queensland

Coordinates

24.1080° S, 152.7120° E

Conditions & Currents

North Bommie generally offers a low hazard profile, though moderate currents can occur, particularly with tidal shifts around Heron Island. Divers typically make a boat entry, either by giant stride or back roll, and descend onto the bommie, often utilizing a mooring line. The dive strategy involves working around the bommie in a multi-level spiral, moving from deeper areas to shallower ones, which allows for conservative gas planning and extended bottom time. Visibility typically ranges from 15 to 25 meters, providing excellent viewing conditions. While currents are generally manageable, divers should be mindful of tidal influences to plan their dive effectively around the bommie's structure and avoid unnecessary exertion. Thermoclines are not commonly a significant factor at this site, but water temperatures vary seasonally.

Marine life & sighting chances

Reef sharks

common

Manta rays

May-August · occasional

Green turtles

common

Loggerhead turtles

common

Fusiliers

common

Sergeant majors

common

Parrotfish

common

Butterflyfish

common

Surgeonfish

common

Damselfish

common

Coral trout

common

Sweetlips

common

Maori wrasse

common

Queensland groper

occasional

Dive profile & how the dive runs

Diving North Bommie typically begins with a boat entry from a launch departing Heron Island, followed by a giant stride or back roll into the water. Divers then descend either along a mooring line or perform a free descent, aiming for the upper section of the bommie which starts around 5 to 8 meters. The dive profile is best executed as a multi-level spiral, progressively circling the bommie from its deeper base at 18 meters towards the shallower coral gardens near the top. This allows for thorough exploration of the ledges, overhangs, and small caverns while maximizing bottom time. The turn point is flexible, determined by air consumption and no-decompression limits as you ascend. The safety stop is usually conducted around the 5-meter mark, often near the bommie's crown, where rich marine life continues to be observed.

Underwater photography

North Bommie offers fantastic opportunities for both wide-angle and macro photography. A wide-angle lens is ideal for capturing the grandeur of the coral bommie itself, showcasing its scale and the vibrant schooling fish that swarm around it. For capturing the intricate coral formations and larger subjects like reef sharks or turtles, a wide-angle setup will prove highly effective. However, macro photographers will also find ample subjects, including nudibranchs, anemone shrimp, and leaf scorpionfish nestled within the corals, so a macro lens is also highly rewarding. Bring a torch to illuminate the numerous overhangs and small caverns, revealing hidden subjects and enhancing colors. Practicing excellent buoyancy control is crucial to avoid contact with the delicate corals, especially when focusing on smaller creatures.

Combine with nearby dive sites

• Lady Musgrave Island

  Lady Musgrave Island, located approximately 102 kilometres north of Bundaberg, is a true coral cay in the Southern Great Barrier Reef…

• Lighthouse Bommie

  On Lady Elliot Island, also a bommie dive

Getting there & logistics

Access to North Bommie is exclusively via Heron Island, which is reached by launch from Gladstone or by seaplane from the mainland. The island itself is a resort destination, meaning dive trips are typically organized directly through the resort's dive operator. There is no parking required at the dive site as all excursions are boat-based. Dives to North Bommie are usually day trips, incorporated into multi-day stays at the Heron Island Resort. There are strict no-take and no-touch rules that apply across the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which covers this site. Park fees are typically included in resort packages or dive trip costs.

Safety & environment

The hazard profile for North Bommie is generally considered low, but divers should always carry appropriate dive insurance for remote Australian locations. The nearest recompression chamber and comprehensive medical facilities would be on the mainland, requiring evacuation in case of a serious incident. Common hazards include marine stingers, which are prevalent from November to May, necessitating protective gear. Other potential reef hazards include stonefish, lionfish, fire coral, and titan triggerfish, particularly during their nesting season. It is imperative to observe strict no-take and no-touch rules to protect the marine environment and avoid harm. The cyclone season, from December to April, poses a risk of weather cancellations and divers should be aware of conditions before planning trips.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

FAQ

North Bommie FAQ

Liveaboards diving North Bommie

These liveaboards may visit North Bommie on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.

Spoilsport

Australia

28 guests30 m

$409/day

Odyssey Liveaboard

Australia

20 guests24 m

$392/day