Meet the site
Short Point Bommie is a boat dive off Short Point, just north of Merimbula town. The Marine Life Network lists it at 15–20 m with pelagic fish and sea dragons. It is a short run from the Merimbula bar and offers a change from the shore dives at the wharf and Short Point beach.
Bommies on this coast are rocky outcrops rising from sand, with kelp on their tops and sponges, sea squirts and gorgonians on their sides. Their isolation attracts fish: schools of yellowtail and sweep around the bommie, with kingfish, trevally, salmon and bonito passing in the blue, particularly in summer and autumn. Weedy sea dragons forage over the kelp on the top and around the sand edges. Blue groper, red morwong, leatherjackets and wrasse are common residents, and wobbegongs and Port Jackson sharks may be found under ledges.
The site suits Open Water divers comfortable at 15–20 m, and Advanced divers looking for pelagic action. The published description is brief and no GPS has been published, so ask Merimbula Divers Lodge for details and the mark. The dive combines well with a shallower dive on the Empire Gladstone or a night dive at Merimbula Wharf. Summer water temperatures here are typically 18–20 °C, but upwelling can suddenly drop them by several degrees, so a hood is worth bringing even in summer. Salmon schools can be large in winter and spring, sometimes swirling around divers in their hundreds. Dolphins are also common around the Merimbula bar and may appear on the boat ride out or back.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Short Point Bommie is recorded as Pinnacle/Bommie in Merimbula. The listed access is 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.
- 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 Short 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 Short 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
Weedy sea dragons, kingfish, trevally, salmon, bonito, yellowtail, sweep, blue groper, red morwong, leatherjackets, wrasse, wobbegongs, Port Jackson sharks, kelp, sponges
Location
Bommie off Short Point, north of Merimbula, at 15–20 m with pelagic fish and sea dragons.
Facilities nearby
Merimbula boat ramps; Merimbula Divers Lodge.
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 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.