Meet the site
The Outer Bommies sit deeper and further out than their Inner counterpart, dropping into the 26-32 m range where the character of the diving shifts from the shallow bommie field's dense schooling-fish soup to what local divers describe as more traditional deep-reef diving. The structures here are generally larger and more solid, with less of the scattered, patchy feel of the shallower field, and the deeper water brings a different mix of species, favouring larger resident fish and occasional pelagic visitors over the sheer numbers game of the Inner Bommies.Because of the depth, this is very much an Advanced-diver site requiring genuine deep-diving experience and tight gas and no-decompression management; bottom times are correspondingly short, and a shot line or careful anchoring is standard given the depth and potential current. The Outer Bommies are typically dived as the second, deeper leg of a two-dive trip out of Norah Head or Terrigal Haven, following a shallower warm-up on the Inner Bommies, a sequencing that also makes sound decompression sense given the depth progression. Visibility tends to be better out here than in the shallower, more turbid inshore bommie field, particularly once the East Australian Current or a settled autumn weather pattern has cleaned up the water column, making this one of the better deep-reef options on the Central Coast for divers with the training and experience to make the most of it. A dependable shot line and a plan for a drifting or fixed safety-stop position pay off here, since the depth leaves little margin for improvising a hang if the anchor drags or a diver becomes separated from the group.
What you might see
Larger resident reef fish, occasional pelagics, gorgonians and sponge growth on solid bommie structure
Location
The deeper half of the Norah Head bommie system, 26-32 m, described as more traditional deep-reef diving.
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.