Steve's Bommie

Steve’s Bommie is an iconic coral pinnacle on Ribbon Reef No. 3 in the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia, renowned for its spectacular soft coral coverage and dense fish life.

Overview

Named in honour of a local dive guide, Steve’s Bommie is one of the most photographed sites on the GBR. A marble memorial plaque at 22 metres commemorates the site’s namesake. The pinnacle rises from approximately 35 metres to around 5 metres depth and is blanketed in soft corals — sea fans, encrusting sponges, and crinoids in vivid colours — that drape every surface and sway in the mild current. The concentration of life on and around the pinnacle is extraordinary, with every tier offering a different spectacle from large pelagic visitors at depth to tiny macro subjects among the coral branches.

Divers consistently rate it among their best GBR experiences, and it appears on almost every liveaboard itinerary in the Ribbon Reefs area.

Site Information

• Location: Ribbon Reef No. 3, northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Pinnacle/seamount
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 35 meters
• Typical Visibility: 20–35 metres
• Current: Mild; light current keeps soft corals extended
• Best Time: July to November

Marine Life

Schools of anthias — the small orange fish that characterise healthy Indo-Pacific reefs — swarm the pinnacle in thousands, creating a living orange halo around the structure. Clownfish are abundant in the anemones on the upper reaches. Nudibranchs are found across every depth zone, from the sandy base to the pinnacle top. Large moray eels occupy the deeper overhangs; Napoleon wrasse and coral trout circle the bommie in a slow orbit. On the sand below, blue-spotted stingrays rest motionlessly. Occasional white tip reef sharks and wobbegongs occupy the deeper areas. The site regularly produces lionfish, leaf scorpionfish, and ghost pipefish for macro hunters.

Dive Profile

Circumnavigate the bommie at various depths to experience the full range of life. Most divers begin deeper — exploring the base and overhangs at 18–20 metres — before spiralling upward through the richest soft coral zones at 10–15 metres, finishing with a slow drift around the pinnacle top at 5–8 metres. Multiple circuits are always rewarding.

Entry and Exit

Liveaboard access only from Cairns. Shot line or free descent to the pinnacle. Exit via SMB on open water.

Tips and Recommendations

• Plan at least two dives here: one wide-angle dive for the soft coral panoramas, one macro dive for the nudibranchs and small critters
• A wide-angle lens captures the anthias clouds and soft coral drapes in their full glory
• Mild current is your friend here — let it carry you around the bommie while you focus on photography
• Visit at different times of day; morning light from the east illuminates the eastern face beautifully

Safety Considerations

Conditions are typically benign. The main risk is becoming absorbed in the site and missing your air limit. Set a turn pressure and adhere to it. SMB deployment is standard for liveaboard pickup.

Photography

Steve’s Bommie is a wide-angle showpiece. Frame the soft coral drapes with the blue water behind, or shoot upward with divers silhouetted against the surface light. The anthias schools add movement and colour to any composition. Macro subjects are found at every depth — bring a diopter for nudibranchs and take your time scanning the coral.

Sources: Great Barrier Reef Tours - Steve’s Bommie, SSI Dive Guide - Steve’s Bommie Ribbon No 3, Spirit of Freedom Ribbon Reefs, Great Barrier Reef Liveaboards - Steve’s Bommie. Last updated 2026-05-30.