Meet the site
Parker Bommie is a single large coral and rock pinnacle off Great Keppel's exposed south-eastern tip, rising from about 17 m to within a metre of the surface. It is less visited than the sheltered bays because it needs calm weather, but local descriptions call it an invertebrate garden of brilliant colour and variety, and it rewards the wait. The bommie's sides are covered in sea fans, cup sponges, tube worms and staghorn corals, with black coral trees on the deeper faces. Schooling batfish and sweetlips hang off the down-current side, angelfish work the ledges, and there is a chance of manta rays, reef sharks and sea snakes. Because the site is compact, a dive consists of circling the pinnacle and slowly working up through the depth range. The upper part can have strong surge, while the base is usually calmer. It is a good site for wide-angle photographs of fans and sponges against the blue when visibility allows, and for macro life hidden among the invertebrates. Parker Bommie is best suited to experienced divers: it is exposed, has no mooring and can have current. When conditions are right, it is one of the most colourful dives in the Keppels. Because Parker Bommie is visited so seldom, it tends to have larger, less disturbed invertebrate colonies than the busier sheltered sites, and the black coral trees in particular are unusually well developed for such shallow water. Expect to spend a lot of the dive looking closely: gobies and small shrimps live on the whips, and nudibranchs graze the sponges. Surface intervals are best spent back in the lee of the island rather than near the exposed point.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Parker Bommie (Great Keppel Island) is recorded as Pinnacle/Bommie in Capricorn Coast & Keppel Islands. 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- 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 Parker Bommie (Great Keppel Island) 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 Parker Bommie (Great Keppel Island) 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
Sea fans, cup sponges, tube worms, staghorn corals, black coral trees, schooling batfish, sweetlips, angelfish, manta rays (occasional), reef sharks, sea snakes
Location
An exposed bommie off the south-east tip of Great Keppel Island rising from about 17 m to 1 m, rich in invertebrates and black coral trees.
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.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.