Meet the site
Turtle Bommie is a large digitate coral bommie inside Lady Musgrave's calm lagoon, filled with massive bushy corals and finger coral (Porites) colonies. It sits at 7-10 m, with visibility of 10-25 m, and is dived directly from the Lady Musgrave HQ pontoon as a shallow lagoon wall dive. The bommie serves as a cleaning station for resident green, loggerhead and hawksbill turtles, which hover or rest against the coral while cleaner fish pick algae and parasites from their shells. For divers, that means close, calm turtle encounters in shallow, bright water, and it is one of the best places at Lady Musgrave for turtle photography and video. The coral itself is impressive: large, bushy colonies and finger corals create a complex structure that shelters blue and green chromis, damselfish and butterflyfish, while reef sharks patrol the surrounding sand. Because of its shallow depth and sheltered location, the site is suitable for non-certified beginners diving with an instructor, and for certified divers wanting a leisurely day or night dive. It is available as an add-on to day tours or as part of an overnight stay on the pontoon. Like the rest of the lagoon, Turtle Bommie lies within a Marine National Park (Green) Zone, and turtles here are used to divers. Give them space at the cleaning station and they will usually stay put, allowing long observation. Turtle nesting season on the island (November-March) brings extra adult turtles into the lagoon, and hatchlings run to the sea from about January to April, so visits in those months often see the most turtle activity around the bommie.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Turtle Bommie (Lady Musgrave Lagoon) is recorded as Pinnacle/Bommie in Lady Musgrave & Bunker Group. 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
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 Turtle Bommie (Lady Musgrave Lagoon) suitable for my certification?
The record lists Snorkel/Any. 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 Turtle Bommie (Lady Musgrave Lagoon) 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
Green, loggerhead and hawksbill turtles, reef sharks, blue and green chromis, damselfish, butterflyfish, Porites finger corals, bushy hard corals
Location
A large digitate coral bommie of massive bushy and finger (Porites) corals in Lady Musgrave's calm lagoon, 7-10 m, used by resident turtles as a cleaning station.
Facilities nearby
Burnett Heads marina (Lady Musgrave Experience): parking, cafe and toilets; Lady Musgrave HQ pontoon has dive platform, hot showers, storage and overnight glamping/dorm beds. 1770 Marina: free parking, cafe.
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
ladymusgraveexperience.com.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.