Meet the site
The NE Bommie off Hamelin Island is the most structured reef dive in Hamelin Bay. Marinelife.org.au describes a large bommie about 50 by 50 m in 9-15 m, with submerged caves and swim-throughs, and lists breaksea cod, slender wrasse, western king wrasse, banded sea perch, Port Jackson sharks and stingrays.
A bommie of that size provides a compact dive with plenty of variety: walls around the base, caves and swim-throughs through the middle, and a top at 9 m for a relaxed end to the dive. Port Jackson sharks often rest in caves and under ledges on South West reefs, particularly in the cooler months, and breaksea cod and banded sea perch hang in the shadows.
It suits Open Water divers comfortable with simple swim-throughs, diving from a small boat in good weather. Combine it with the lee reef of Hamelin Island, and finish the day with the stingrays at the ramp.
Hamelin Bay was a timber port from the 1880s, when a jetty built in 1882 and extended in 1898 served M. C. Davies' milling operations. It was notorious for wrecks in bad weather because it is exposed to the north-west gales of winter storms; the 22 July 1900 storm alone wrecked several ships, and only the old jetty piles remain today. The bay is now a recreation zone in the Ngari Capes Marine Park, and every wreck in it older than 75 years is protected. Carry a torch for the caves and look under ledges for resting sharks.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Hamelin Island NE Bommie is recorded as Pinnacle/Bommie in Margaret River & Augusta. The listed access is boat (day trip). Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
- Overhead environments
- Ask whether the plan stays entirely in open water. A wreck or cave listing is not permission or training to enter.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is Hamelin Island NE Bommie suitable for my certification?
The record lists Open Water. That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book Hamelin Island NE Bommie through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Breaksea cod, slender wrasse, western king wrasse, banded sea perch, Port Jackson sharks, stingrays, sponges
Location
Large 50 x 50 m bommie off the north-east of Hamelin Island in 9-15 m, with submerged caves and swim-throughs.
Facilities nearby
Hamelin Bay boat ramp and holiday park.
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
marinelife.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
