Meet the site
Bennetts Head Bommie is a compact, isolated rock formation off the Forster headland of the same name, running roughly 80 metres in length and rising from the surrounding sand to within eight to ten metres of the surface — shallow enough to make it one of the most relaxed and photography-friendly dives in the Forster rotation. A small cave on the bommie's ocean-facing side gives divers a bit of overhead-environment interest without any real technical demand, easily explored ('noodled around', as local divers describe it) rather than requiring specialist training. Visibility here is regularly excellent, often reaching 30 metres, a product of the site's position away from any river or lake outflow and its relatively exposed, well-flushed location. The bommie supports a genuinely broad marine life list for its size: shovelnose and bull rays and turtles are seen on the surrounding sand, while the rock itself holds red morwong, eastern blue groper, luderick, surgeonfish, leatherjackets, old wife and boarfish among the reef fish, and a strong population of moray eels, cuttlefish, nudibranchs, shrimp, lobsters and hermit crabs among the invertebrates, all set against a backdrop of anemones, kelp and soft corals. This combination of shallow depth, long possible bottom times, reliable visibility and dense small-scale marine life makes Bennetts Head Bommie one of Forster's best all-round dives for underwater photography and for divers who prefer an unhurried, detail-focused dive over a big-animal chase, and it works well as either a stand-alone outing or a relaxed second dive after a deeper morning at The Pinnacle.
What you might see
Shovelnose rays, bull rays, turtles, red morwong, eastern blue groper, luderick, surgeonfish, leatherjacket, old wife, boarfish, moray eels, cuttlefish, nudibranchs, shrimp, lobsters, hermit crabs
Location
An isolated rocky formation about 80 m long off Bennetts Head, Forster, rising from sand to near the surface, with a small cave on its ocean-facing side and excellent visibility.
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
forsterdivecentre.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.