Meet the site
Nonki Bommie is the signature dive of Holmes Reef and one of the best-known soft-coral dives in the Coral Sea. It is a huge pinnacle split by a crack into two fingers, with a canyon between them. Marinelife.org.au gives a depth range of 5–36 m and a position of 16°32.030'S 147°48.324'E, and notes that the base continues to about 40 m before a wall drops to 300 m.
The pinnacle is draped in soft corals, giant yellow and red sponges and sea fans, with the largest fans in the deeper areas. Mike Ball's 7-night itinerary promises giant yellow and orange sea fans, with sharks patrolling the 35 m pinnacle, and the Coral Sea Odyssey describes huge, brightly coloured soft corals, fans, critters and schooling fish. The canyon between the two fingers is the photographic highlight, a narrow gap lined with colour.
Fish life is abundant. Big-eye trevally school around the bommie, dogtooth tuna and grey reef sharks patrol, silvertips appear, and hammerheads are an occasional visitor. On the bommie itself look for hawkfish, parrotfish, rabbitfish, butterflyfish, clownfish, nudibranchs and turtles. Dive the World calls it usually calm and one of the easier dives at Holmes, which is why it is used on every Holmes itinerary.
Nonki suits intermediate divers comfortable at 20–30 m. It is best for wide-angle photography, particularly in the canyon and around the fans, though macro subjects are plentiful. On Mike Ball's Townsville departures it is often the first Coral Sea dive after the overnight crossing, a spectacular introduction to the region's soft corals.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Nonki Bommie (Holmes Reef) is recorded as Pinnacle/Bommie in Coral Sea. The listed access is boat (multi-day/liveaboard). 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.
- 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 Nonki Bommie (Holmes Reef) 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 Nonki Bommie (Holmes Reef) 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, giant sea fans, yellow and red sponges, big-eye trevally, dogtooth tuna, grey reef and silvertip sharks, occasional hammerheads, turtles, hawkfish, parrotfish, rabbitfish, butterflyfish, clownfish, nudibranchs
Location
A huge pinnacle split by a crack into two fingers, rising from about 36–40 m on Holmes Reef, 240 km east of Cairns, above a wall dropping to 300 m.
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.audive-the-world.commikeball.commikeball.commikeball.commikeball.comaustralianmarineparks.gov.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
