Barry's Bommie is a spectacular submerged reef pinnacle on the Great Detached Reef (GDR) in the remote far northern Great Barrier Reef off Cape York. This isolated bommie rises from the deep ocean floor toward the surface, creating a vibrant coral-covered seamount teeming with life. Rated by experienced divers as one of the most beautiful and diverse sites in the region, it offers pristine drop-offs, swirling schools of fish, and untouched coral gardens far from mass tourism. Its sheer walls and dramatic topography make for exceptional snorkelling in crystal-clear tropical waters, though access is exclusively via multi-day liveaboard charters.
Barry's Bommie
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Wave Height 0.0 mSwell Period 3.1 sWind Speed 4.4 knPrecipitation 0.6 mmTidal Phase flood
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Strong tidal currents
Strong currents can sweep around the bommie pinnacle, especially during tidal changes. Snorkellers should be confident in current-prone conditions.
Moderate risk: Extreme remoteness
The site is many hours from the nearest medical facility on Thursday Island, with no immediate emergency services on site.
Low risk: Depth changes near pinnacle
The bommie rises from deep water; depths can change abruptly from shallow (5m) to 30m+. Snorkellers should stay aware of depth changes.
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Getting in
Boat
Entry
Barry's Bommie is a remote offshore reef pinnacle on the Great Detached Reef (GDR), accessed via liveaboard dive/snorkel charter boats departing from Thursday Island (Horn Island) or Cairns. The site is roughly a 15-18 hour steam from Thursday Island, located in the far northern Great Barrier Reef, Cape York.
Parking & facilities
Not applicable. Departure point is Horn Island Airport/ferry terminal. Parking available at Horn Island airport for long-term stays.
Access is via multi-day liveaboard charters. Example trip: 9-night/28-dive package circa $4,100 AUD per person (2024 prices), including all meals, accommodation, and transfers from Horn Island.
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports