Steve's Bommie is a legendary underwater pinnacle on Ribbon Reef No. 3 in the northern Great Barrier Reef. This isolated coral spire rises from 30 metres deep to just 5 metres below the surface, creating a vibrant oasis of marine life in the open ocean. Named after a beloved deckhand who drowned at nearby Cod Hole in the late 1980s, the bommie is topped with a memorial plaque and surrounded by swirling schools of yellow snapper, grey reef sharks, white-tip and black-tip reef sharks, and barracuda. The bommie's walls are smothered in colourful hard and soft corals, while ledges and gutters hide frogfish, leafy scorpionfish, wobbegong sharks, stonefish, lionfish, and green turtles. With its exceptional visibility, dramatic vertical structure, and abundant pelagic action, Steve's Bommie is considered one of the premier dive and snorkel sites on the Great Barrier Reef.
Steve's Bommie
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Low risk: Ocean currents
Moderate currents can develop around the bommie, especially on the windward side. Divers and snorkelers should use the lee side and follow the swim line deployed from the boat.
Low risk: Venomous reef fish
Stonefish, lionfish, and scorpionfish are present on the reef. Do not touch the reef or place hands on ledges.
Low risk: Remote offshore location
The bommie is a remote offshore site with no immediate emergency services. All diving is conducted from a mother vessel with trained crew.
Low risk: Open ocean swell and wind chop
Whale Bommie lies in open ocean waters exposed to the Coral Sea. Swells and wind chop can create challenging surface conditions, especially for snorkellers.
Low risk: Tidal currents
Strong tidal currents flow through the ribbon reefs of the outer Great Barrier Reef, capable of sweeping snorkellers and divers off the bommie.
Low risk: Variable depth bommie with deep drop-offs
The main bommie drops from 5m to 22m, and satellite bommies to 26m. Snorkellers must stay aware of depth changes and boat traffic.
Low risk: Whitetip reef sharks and lionfish
Whitetip reef sharks and lionfish are regularly sighted here. While not aggressive, they should be observed with respect and not provoked.
Low risk: Boat traffic
Boat traffic from tour operators and liveaboards operating in the outer reef area. Snorkellers must be vigilant and stay near mooring lines.
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Getting in
Steve's Bommie is located on Ribbon Reef No. 3 in the northern Great Barrier Reef, approximately a 3-4 hour boat ride from Cairns, Queensland. Access is exclusively via liveaboard dive vessels or day-trip charter boats that operate out of Cairns and Port Douglas.
N/A — no parking at the site. Park at the marina/cruise terminal in Cairns or Port Douglas.
Access is via chartered dive trips; liveaboard costs vary (typically AUD $300-$600+ per day depending on itinerary). A Great Barrier Reef Marine Park levy is usually included in tour fees.
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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).
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- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.