Meet the site
The Inner Bommies form the shallower half of an extensive rocky bommie system scattered off Norah Head, sitting in a comfortable 15-20 m that keeps no-decompression time generous compared with the area's deeper reefs and wrecks. Local divers sum the site up succinctly as total fish soup — a description that captures both the density of fish life stacked around the individual bommie heads and the slightly chaotic, all-action character of the diving here compared with the more structured wall dives elsewhere on the coast. Rather than one defined route, the Inner Bommies present as a scatter of individual rock structures rising from the seabed, each acting as its own small fish-aggregation point.This makes the site a natural training and comfort-building ground for divers stepping up from shallower shore dives into genuine boat-based reef diving, since the shallower depth range keeps bottom time generous while still delivering the schooling-fish spectacle the wider Norah Head bommie fields are known for. Expect large aggregations of common temperate reef fish moving between bommies, with the odd ray or shark cruising the sand channels separating the individual structures. Because it sits within the same general bommie field as the deeper Outer Bommies, club boats and charters often dive the two as a pair, using the Inner Bommies as the shallower, longer, more relaxed of the two dives and the Outer Bommies as the deeper, shorter highlight dive later in the day. The bommie tops also carry a good spread of sponge and gorgonian growth for photographers to work with between the fish passes, and the shallower depth here means less pressure to rush a shot before ascending than at the deeper sites further along this coast.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Inner Bommies (Norah Head) is recorded as Pinnacle/Bommie in Central Coast. The listed access is boat. 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.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
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 Inner Bommies (Norah Head) suitable for my certification?
The record lists Advanced 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 Inner Bommies (Norah Head) 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
Dense schools of common temperate reef fish, rays, occasional sharks
Location
A shallower bommie system off Norah Head, 15-20 m, described locally as thick with fish life.
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
terrigalunderwatergroup.comcoastmagazine.com.aucentralcoastdivers.com.auprodive.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.