Meet the site
Manta Bommies lies on the outer reef off Lady Musgrave Island, in the Bunker Group at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. It is made up of isolated and scattered bommies rising from a sloping sandy bottom, and these coral heads act as cleaning stations for manta rays, which is how the site earned its name. Depths range from about 16 to 23 m, with shallower coral gardens near the reef, and visibility is typically 15-35 m. The site is run as a drift dive and works on both the flood and ebb tides, with the current carrying divers across a large area of reef. That means more chance of encounters: as well as mantas, the operator lists turtles, eagle, bull and stingrays, and blacktip, whitetip, leopard, tawny nurse and even hammerhead sharks, plus lionfish, anemones with clownfish and pelagic fish. Dolphins are sometimes seen, and humpback whales pass between July and October. The shallow coral gardens are colourful and good for photography, while the bommies are the place to pause and watch for mantas at the cleaning stations. The dive is guided by a divemaster with a free descent and free ascent, and the tender follows the group. Marine life writers describe the western-side Manta Ray Bommie as a collection of large coral-covered bommies with cleaner wrasse, batfish, reef sharks, coral trout, red emperor, snapper, barracuda, Maori wrasse, sweetlips, groper, cardinalfish, soft corals and gorgonians. Manta Bommies suits Open Water divers with recent experience who are comfortable with a drift; operators require certification at booking. It is the headline dive of a Lady Musgrave day trip and, with the lagoon, the reason many divers make the long crossing.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Manta Bommies (Lady Musgrave) is recorded as Pinnacle/Bommie in Lady Musgrave & Bunker Group. 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.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
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 Manta Bommies (Lady Musgrave) 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 Manta Bommies (Lady Musgrave) 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
Manta rays (cleaning stations), turtles, eagle rays, bull rays, stingrays, blacktip, whitetip, leopard, tawny nurse and hammerhead sharks, lionfish, clownfish, batfish, coral trout, red emperor, barracuda, Maori wrasse, dolphins, humpback whales (Jul-Oct)
Location
Isolated and scattered bommies on a sloping sandy bottom on the outer reef off the western side of Lady Musgrave, acting as manta cleaning stations; 16-23 m drift on flood or ebb.
Facilities nearby
Burnett Heads marina (Lady Musgrave Experience): parking, cafe and toilets; Lady Musgrave HQ pontoon has dive platform, hot showers, storage and overnight glamping/dorm beds. 1770 Marina: free parking, cafe.
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
ladymusgraveexperience.com.auladymusgraveexperience.com.aumarinelife.org.audivernet.comRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.