Meet the site
Cable Bommie – spelt 'Cable Bonnie' on the official tourism listing and called 'Cables' by Diveplanit – combines a healthy coral bommie with relics of Direction Island's history as a cable station. The depth range is 14–25 m. From 1901 Direction Island housed the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company's cable station, a relay on the submarine telegraph linking Australia with Africa and Asia, and it was this station that the German cruiser SMS Emden sent a landing party to destroy in November 1914, leading to the Battle of Cocos. Lying on the reef at this site are lengths of cable and two large winches which, according to the official listing, are believed to have been used in the cable operations. The winches are heavily encrusted and now serve as reef structure, and the cables run across the bottom, gradually being overgrown. Around the man-made features, the reef has colourful fish and coral; Diveplanit notes the many hiding spots in the structures, and lionfish shelter in the winches and under ledges. Grey reef sharks patrol the surrounding water. The site is a moderate-depth, relaxed dive suitable for Open Water divers, and the history adds interest for divers who have visited the cable station remains on Direction Island at lunchtime. The published GPS for Cable Bommie is identical to that of Winter Wall, suggesting the two are neighbouring parts of the same stretch of reef, possibly dived as a single outing. Photographers can make interesting images of the encrusted winches with fish, and the mix of history and reef makes it a rewarding dive. The cables and winches are heritage objects: look but do not move or remove anything.
What you might see
Lionfish, grey reef sharks, colourful reef fish, hard and soft corals, turtles
Location
Reef with historic telegraph cables and two winches on the northern rim of the southern atoll off Direction Island, at -12.0855, 96.8748 (same published mark as Winter Wall).
Facilities nearby
Departs West Island; no shops or fuel on the outer islands – Cocos Dive supplies lunch on day trips.
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
cocoskeelingislands.com.audiveplanit.comRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.