Anemone Lump (Easter Group)

Meet the site

Anemone Lump is widely regarded as the Abrolhos's premier dive site. It is a coral bommie in the Easter Group rising from about 38-40 m to within 3-8 m of the surface. Marine Life Network describes its covering of anemones with resident anemonefish and thousands of silvery minnows (baitfish) swirling around the lump, with tiger sharks recorded; Eco Abrolhos adds huge plate corals and large, curious spangled emperor and snapper.

The bommie concentrates life in the open water around it: schools of baitfish attract predators, and the anemone fields at this latitude – thanks to the Leeuwin Current – are a striking sight. Strong currents sweep the site, which feeds the growth but means it must be dived at slack water, ideally with a guide.

It suits Advanced Open Water divers comfortable with current and depth; snorkellers can enjoy the top in calm, slack conditions. It is a highlight of liveaboard itineraries in the Easter Group, which also include Rolland Passage and the sea lions of Little Sandy Island.

Slack water at the Abrolhos is short, so liveaboard crews time the dive carefully and usually drop divers up-current of the lump. The shallow top also makes an excellent long safety stop among the anemones. Photographers should bring wide-angle for the baitfish clouds and macro for the anemonefish. Nitrox helps extend time on the flanks, and a reef hook is not appropriate on living coral – hold position by finning or using dead rock only.

What you might see

Anemones and anemonefish, huge plate corals, spangled emperor, pink snapper, baitfish schools, coral trout, baldchin groper, tiger sharks

Location

Coral bommie rising from about 38-40 m to 3-8 m in the Easter Group, covered in anemones with anemonefish and huge plate corals; the Abrolhos's premier dive site, subject to strong currents.