Dive Sites
Heron Bommie
Coral Canyons
Harry's Bommie
Pam's Point
Gorgonia Hole
North Bommie
Tenements 1
Libbie's Lair
Coral Cascades
Wistari 1
Gorgonia Hole
This is a shallow dive good for the afternoons. On a low tide here it is not uncommon to see turtles hiding among the cracks and crevices. Lots of little holes to stick your head in, and lots of interesting little (and big) creatures to find, especially if you go on a swim along the reef edge; there are some amazing fisues in the reef where you can swim in and along. Take a torch so as to see beneath the underhangs. Painted crayfish, green, loggerhead and hawksbill turtles and lion fish have been seen.
Take a look out on the sand towards deeper water I have found quite a few really interesting nudibranchs out amongst the rubble.
The original reason this site received it's name was for the number of large gorgonian sea fans that grew along the outer ridges, Orange Sea Fan Mopsella sp.
Over the years various cyclones and rough seas often boke the larger fans off. However, they always grew back again. (Photo: Neville Coleman)
Hidden amongst the branches of the sea fans one can often see, Angas's Spindle Cowry Phenacovolva angasi. It grows to around 20 mm and has a mantle pattern that blends in with it's habitat. (Photo: Neville Coleman)
Almost out of sight this Steephead Parrotfish Chlorurus microrhinus has a juvenile Suckerfish on it's head and is waiting patiently to be cleaned by the resident cleaner wrasse beneath this ledge.
(Photo: Neville Coleman)
Seen at a number of dive sites around Heron Island the Firery Pseudoceros flatworm Pseudoceros ferrugineus grows to 45 mm and is seen out in the open during the day. (Photo: Neville Coleman)
Camouflaged amongst the branches of a sea fan growing from the reef edge, this Trumpetfish Aulostomus chinensis waits paitently for some unsuspecting small fish to come close enough for it to strike. (Photo: Neville Coleman)
Daytime foragers feeding on sponges and hydroids with their bristle-like teeth, Blue Angelfishes Pomacanthus semicirculatus have a large teritorial area over which they roam. Always an attractive, and rarely flighty, fish this species is always a pleasure to photograph. (Photo: Neville Coleman)
All the Black Coral Trees that I have seen along the seaward ledges have lots of Grasping Snake Stars Astrobrachion constrictum wound around their branches. Thses Snake Stars may have different colours, but the main form is red.
(Photo: Neville Coleman)
Slingjaw Wrasse (female) Epibulus insidiator generally occur around the fringes of dense clumps of Staghorn Corals where they use their unique "slingjaws" to shoot out and catch small damselfishes hiding in the coral. (Photo: Neville Coleman)
The Painted Rock Lobster Panulirus versicolor lives beneath ledges and on the ceilings and walls of deeper caves during the day, coming out at night to hunt the small molluscs upon which it feeds. (Photo: Neville Coleman)
Growing in small and large clumps, up to a metre wide, the Cypress Hydroid Aglaophenia cupressina grows along the edges of shallow water reefs and is easily recognised. This species should be avoided as it has a very nasty sting. However, it often has very rare nudibranchs living on it.
(Photo: Neville Coleman)