Australia’s 50 Great Dives index

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HERON BOMMIE

Heron Island, Queensland

Type of dive:

Reef

Snorkelling:

Yes, amazing!

Scuba:

Open Water

Access:

Boat only (5 minutes)

Depth:

5 – 18 metres (15-60’)

Visibility:

10 – 25 metres (30-80’)

Water temperature:

22 – 26°C (72-79°F)

Seasonal:

No, can visit anytime

The father of recreational scuba diving, Jacques Cousteau, rated Heron Bommie in his Top 10 dive sites!

Spectacular Heron Bommie is one of Australia’s most famous dive sites with a worldwide reputation. Heron Bommie is located on Heron Island, a coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef’s Capricornia Group, 90 kilometres (55 mi) from Gladstone.

The island is only accessible by boat or helicopter.

Heron Island was used as a turtle cannery until 1923 and declared a National Park in 1943. The island now comprises of a 200-guest resort and the Heron Island Research Station; one of the world’s finest coral reef research facilities.

The wreck of the warship HMAS Protector can be seen on the side of the boat channel. It was purchased by the South Australian government in 1884 and saw service in the Boxer Rebellion and both World Wars. After a collision with a tug boat, it was taken to Heron Island in 1943 to act as a breakwater.

Heron Island is home to over 900 of the 1500 species of fish found on the Great Barrier Reef and over 70% of the coral species. Heron Island is famous for its coral gardens and underwater pinnacles.

Heron Bommie is teeming with fish and probably the best fish dive in Australia.

Schools of jacks and barracuda, manta rays, turtles, reef sharks, eagle rays and a huge array of reef fish, including pipe fish, harlequin fish, clouds of damsels and the Bommie’s famous giant Queensland groper – ‘Gus’ are just a few of the fish species to inhabit Heron Bommie.

There are also seasonal visits of egg-laying loggerhead and green Turtles, and migratory humpback whales are often seen swimming in the Wistari Channel.

All of Heron’s magic is only minutes from your bedroom!

OTHER GREAT DIVES WHILE THERE
Pam’s Point, Gorgonia Hole, Coral Cascades, 3 Rocks and North Bommie.

2026 GREAT AUSTRALIAN DIVE CHALLENGE
Dive Registration
To register this dive for validation, go to: www.50greatdives.com.
NOTE: Entrants should do this dive with one of the following preferred dive services.