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Vibrant underwater scene capturing a school of fish with divers exploring a coral reef habitat.
📷 Leonardo Lamas · Pexels

Nursery Bommie

3.4 — based on 12 community signals
4.2 12 species 18 contributors

Nursery Bommie is a year-round Great Barrier Reef dive site known for healthy coral and rich marine life in a protected World Heritage Area.

⭐ Best for beginners.

🐢 MPA · Great Barrier Reef World Herit… updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
MPAFamily-friendlyPhotoFriendlyMacroFocus

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Best months
Year-round

Top operators here

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Map

This spot Operators Airport Nearby spots
Nursery Bommie location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
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Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
22.1 kn
Wave
2.28 m
Water
24.2°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: SE (59%)
Now: ESE (122°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 1.88m

Next: High at 05:00 (+0.61m)

+1.7 m0 m-0.2 m
▲ 05:00 · +0.61m ▼ 10:00 · +0.26m ▲ 18:00 · +1.38m ▼ 00:00 · +0.28m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV8.55 · very high Air PM2.517 · moderate 06:08 18:12
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 26.3 2.36 9 1mm
09-20 21.2 1.94 8 0mm
09-21 17.9 1.4 7 1mm
09-22 18.1 1.3 8 2mm
09-23 17.3 1.4 9 8mm
09-24 21.6 1.54 9 6mm
09-25 21.4 1.48 8 3mm

About this spot

Nursery Bommie sits within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, one of the world's most biodiverse marine ecosystems. The site offers consistent diving throughout the year, making it accessible to divers planning trips at any season. The coral here shows no signs of bleaching stress, indicating robust health and vibrant growth that supports the site's diverse animal life. The bommie structure provides varied habitats for reef inhabitants. Twelve recorded species observations document the underwater community here, from macro critters to larger pelagics. Three community-contributed videos give prospective divers a window into what to expect underwater—real conditions, real encounters. Because Nursery Bommie lies inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, all diving is subject to zoning and permit regulations. These protections preserve the reef's ecological function and ensure the site remains productive for future visitors. Before booking, check current access rules and any area-specific requirements with your dive operator.

📖 Guide: Diving in Australia: 61 Sites from Coral Reefs to Cold-Water Wrecks

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Dive types

ReefBoat

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type I · 230V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 15075km · ~3467kg · €62

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 53/100
  • Visa: e-Visa · 90 days max
  • Flight: 16h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 9h east · 6 days recovery

FAQ

When is the best time to dive Nursery Bommie?

Nursery Bommie is diveable year-round. Water conditions vary seasonally, but the site remains accessible in all months. Check with local operators for current conditions during your planned travel dates.

What marine life will I see?

Twelve species have been recorded at Nursery Bommie. The site supports reef fish, invertebrates, and other organisms typical of healthy Great Barrier Reef habitat. Community videos showcase actual sightings and give a realistic preview.

Do I need permits to dive here?

Yes. Nursery Bommie is located within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and Marine Park. All diving is subject to zoning regulations and permit requirements. Your dive operator will guide you on compliance.

How is the coral health?

The coral at Nursery Bommie shows no bleaching stress, indicating good overall health. This reflects the reef's current resilience and the value of protected-area management.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Agincourt Reef No. 1 - Trigger Fish City

1.3 km
Dive centre

Light Reef - Phil`s Bommie

5.5 km
Dive centre

Agincourt Reef No. 4 - The Point

8 km
Dive centre

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

27 records · 23 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Maxillopoda

Maxillopoda
OBIS
Last seen:
9 Jun 2024
×1records

Electroma papilionacea

Bivalvia · Vulsellidae
OBIS
Last seen:
9 Jun 2024
×1records

Mysta picta

Polychaeta · Phyllodocidae
OBIS
Last seen:
21 Feb 2024
×1records

Oikopleura (Vexillaria) dioica

Appendicularia · Oikopleuridae
OBIS
Last seen:
21 Feb 2024
×1records

Solmundella bitentaculata

Hydrozoa · Solmundaeginidae
OBIS
Last seen:
21 Jun 2023
×1records

Clytia linearis

Hydrozoa · Campanulariidae
OBIS
Last seen:
21 Jun 2023
×1records

Melicertum octocostatum

Hydrozoa · Melicertidae
OBIS
Last seen:
8 Jun 2022
×1records

Mysta picta

Polychaeta · Phyllodocidae
OBIS
Last seen:
8 Jun 2022
×1records

Maxillopoda

Maxillopoda
OBIS
Last seen:
3 Oct 2021
×1records

Mysta picta

Polychaeta · Phyllodocidae
OBIS
Last seen:
14 Feb 2021
×1records

Maxillopoda

Maxillopoda
OBIS
Last seen:
23 Oct 2012
×1records

Patro australis

Orange Jingle Shell
Bivalvia · Anomiidae
OBIS
Last seen:
23 Dec 2010
×1records

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Nursery Bommie

gareph

Nursery Bommie - Aginourt Reef Dive Sites

Quicksilver Group

Great Barrier Reef - Agincourt Reef - Nursery Bommie - Dive 3

finigdan
wind peaks May-Apr-Aug, calmest Dec-Jan-Nov, dry May-Nov.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: Jul (100/100) Worst: Feb (0/100) Now: Sep (100/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

Nearby spots

Agincourt Reef No. 1 - Trigger Fish City Australia Diving
🇦🇺 Australia

Agincourt Reef No. 1 - Trigger Fish City

Agincourt Reef No. 1 is a pristine Great Barrier Reef dive site known for dense trigger fish populations and healthy coral in a World Heritage protected area.

Intermediate
Just Magic Australia Diving
🇦🇺 Australia

Just Magic

Just Magic is a year-round dive site inside the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, with healthy coral and consistent marine life sightings.

Beginner Jan·Feb·Mar+
Light Reef - Phil`s Bommie Australia Diving
🇦🇺 Australia

Light Reef - Phil`s Bommie

Light Reef — Phil's Bommie is a year-round dive site within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, known for healthy coral and rich marine life.

Beginner

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