East North Bommie

Meet the site

East North Bommie is one of a group of bommies north-east of Ulladulla Harbour that the local shop simply calls the North Bommies. Michael McFadyen describes this one as a reef running north–south, with its top at 20 m and a sand edge at about 25–26 m. Small boulders line the sand edge, and further along are bigger boulders and sections of wall with small overhangs and cracks. It is only just under two kilometres from the wharf, so the boat ride is short and the site is often dived when conditions rule out the longer run south.

The depth brings good invertebrate life. Sponges are the standout, with colourful encrusting and upright forms, plus sea squirts, gorgonians and lace corals growing on the walls. The fish are what the North Bommies are known for: the Marine Life Network describes walls, canyons and boulders teeming with yellowtail and pomfrets, and McFadyen adds weedy sea dragons over the kelp and sand edge, moray eels in cracks, eastern blue devilfish under overhangs and nannygai around the deeper boulders. The shallower main North Bommie nearby (about 18 m) has a small cave the operator calls The Penthouse, and a North-East Bommie at 10–14 m gives a gentler alternative.

The site suits Advanced Open Water divers, or Open Water divers with a guide, because the whole dive is spent between 20 and 26 m. It is a straightforward out-and-back along the sand edge and reef face, which makes navigation easy. It is a good place to look for sea dragons and devilfish, and to photograph the sponge-covered walls. It lacks the drama of Burrill Rocks, but it is closer, reliable and usually has plenty of fish.

What you might see

Weedy sea dragons, eastern blue devilfish, moray eels, nannygai, yellowtail, pomfrets, sponges, sea squirts, gorgonians, lace corals

Location

North–south running bommie just under 2 km from Ulladulla wharf, north-east of the harbour; reef top at 20 m, sand at 25–26 m.

Facilities nearby

Ulladulla Harbour boat ramp, toilets and parking; air fills at Dive Adventures Ulladulla.