Bremer Island

Meet the site

Bremer Island – Dhambaliya in Yolŋu Matha – is a 7.7 km long, 16 km² island lying 3.4 km off the north-east corner of Arnhem Land and about 5 km from Nhulunbuy. It is the closest island dive to town and the one most visitors to Gove are likely to do. Sea turtles nest on its beaches, the East Bremer Islets 4.5 km to the east are an Important Bird Area, and the small Banubanu Beach Retreat at the northern tip – limited to eight guests – has been the island's only tourist facility.

The Marine Life Network describes Bremer as offering relaxing, colourful fringing coral reefs in the shallows and, at greater depth, caves filled with sponges, sea fans and soft corals, across a depth range of about 5–40 m. This gives the island two very different dives. In the shallows, hard corals – plates, branching and massive forms – host damselfish, anemonefish, butterflyfish, parrotfish and wrasse, with turtles common. Deeper, the reef breaks into ledges and caverns whose walls and ceilings are covered with sponges, gorgonians and soft corals, and where moray eels, gropers and coral trout shelter.

Water clarity is a highlight compared with the western Top End: Gove lies at the entrance to the Gulf of Carpentaria, where tidal ranges are smaller and there is less river outflow, so visibility of 10–20 m is common in good conditions. Rays and trevally patrol the sand and reef edges.

Bremer suits a wide range of divers: Open Water divers can enjoy the shallow gardens, while experienced divers can explore the deeper caves. It is Yolŋu land and sea country, and visitors must hold the appropriate permits and respect restrictions on landing.

What you might see

Turtles, rays, gropers, coral trout, moray eels, trevally, parrotfish, butterflyfish, anemonefish, sponges, sea fans, soft corals, hard corals

Location

Island 3.4 km off the north-east tip of the Gove Peninsula, about 5 km from Nhulunbuy, with fringing coral reefs in the shallows and caves deeper down.

Facilities nearby

Gove Boat Club (Drimmie Head Road, Melville Bay) – boat ramp, bar, meals, moorings; fuel and supplies in Nhulunbuy. Air fills only through the local dive business (confirm availability) – serious divers bring or arrange compressor access.