Meet the site
Knawesome Bommie – also called Al's Bommie, after the diver who put it on the chart – is a big pinnacle standing in the shipping channel off Shortland Bluff. The Scuba Doctor listing, with GPS from Allie Beckhurst, describes 'a large bommie [that] rises from 40 metres to 22 metres with lots of other smaller ones scattered around it', and says that despite its position in the channel it is 'teeming with marine life and a fantastic area for taking photographs'. Its distinguishing feature is 'a large ship's anchor heavily encrusted into a section' of the bommie – a relic of the channel's shipping history that has been there long enough to be part of the rock.
The main bommie is 18 m high, with soft corals, sponges and gorgonian fans over its faces, overhanging ledges and small caves around its base and flanks, and the smaller bommies around it forming a field of structure on the 40 m sand. The fish are those of the deeper channel reefs: southern blue devils in the caves, magpie morwong and boarfish along the ledges, and schools of pike hanging off the top in the current; crayfish are 'known to be caught in the area', and because the site lies outside the marine national park boundary that remains legal for licensed divers, unlike the Lonsdale sites.
The depth profile – 22 m on top, 40 m at the sand – puts it in the deep-Advanced band, and the channel position imposes the usual conditions: slack water, shipping report, no anchoring, live boat and DSMBs. It is dived by experienced groups and clubs rather than as a scheduled charter drop, usually with Awesome Reef 100 m away, and it is one of the better photographic sites on the Queenscliff side for those who can handle the depth.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Knawesome Bommie is recorded as Pinnacle/Bommie in Port Phillip Heads. 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.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
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 Knawesome Bommie suitable for my certification?
The record lists Deep/Advanced + experience. 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 Knawesome 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
Soft corals, sponges, gorgonian fans, southern blue devil, magpie morwong, longsnout boarfish, pike schools, southern rock lobster, old wife, encrusted ship's anchor
Location
Large bommie in the shipping channel off Shortland Bluff, Queenscliff, 101 m south-south-west of Awesome Reef and 570 m north-east of Olympic Wall; outside the marine national 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
scubadoctor.com.auscubadoctor.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
