Meet the site
Pillar Point Bommie is the most interesting shore-accessible scuba dive at Tidal River and the only bommie dive on the Prom reachable from a beach. Scuba Doctor lists it at 2–25 m for Advanced divers: a large granite bommie rising to within 7 m of the surface, 75 m off the tip of Pillar Point at the north-western end of Norman Bay. The bommie is a single massive granite block standing on a boulder and sand floor, with kelp on its crown, coralline turf and sponge on its flanks, and hydroids and anemones in the deeper sections, and because it stands in the flow off the point it attracts fish in a way the fringing reef does not: long-finned pike hang in schools over the top, magpie perch and wrasse work the sides, sweep and zebrafish school in the current, and weedy seadragons are recorded around the base and along the kelp on the point. Crayfish sit under the boulders at the base, protected here. The water is the clear western-Prom water and the bommie is a fine subject for wide-angle photography on a calm day. The difficulties are access and exposure. Reaching it means a stiff walk along the beach in gear, a 75 m surface swim off a headland tip where surge and current build, and a return the same way, so it is an Advanced dive from shore and a much easier one from a boat launched off the same beach. It needs an easterly-wind day with no swell, and slack water. Pillar Point South, 250 m to the north-east, is the gentler shore dive on the same headland and the sensible fallback when the bommie is too rough.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Pillar Point Bommie is recorded as Pinnacle/Bommie in Wilsons Promontory. The listed access is shore or 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.
- 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 Pillar Point Bommie 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 Pillar Point 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
Long-finned pike, magpie perch, wrasse, sweep, zebrafish, weedy seadragons, hydroids and anemones, sponges, southern rock lobster, kelp
Location
Large granite bommie rising to 7 m about 75 m off the tip of Pillar Point at the north-western end of Norman Bay, Tidal River, Wilsons Promontory.
Facilities nearby
Tidal River campground: toilets, hot showers, general store, visitor centre, no fuel or air; car parks at Norman Bay, Squeaky Beach, Picnic Bay and Whisky Bay; No air fills at Tidal River or Port Welshpool; the nearest compressor is roughly 100 km away (Melbourne's south-east or Inverloch/Leongatha area by arrangement) – bring all cylinders or a portable compressor
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.auscubadoctor.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.