Dive Sites
Heron Bommie
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Gorgonia Hole
North Bommie
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Although the Heron Bommie is a very old structure and may look to some dead and uninteresting from a distance, nothing could be further from the truth. Positioned as it is out in the current and riddled with caves and hidey holes, it has an absloute wealth of species, and the night diving is superb. It is an underwater photographer's paradise. (Photo: Neville Coleman)
Heron Island’s signature dive site for over 40 years, this site consists of six large coral heads that start in 5 meters of water and dot down the reef slope to 18 meters.
Always occupied by schools of fish, the bommie is a major cleaning station for all the fish in the area, including the majestic mantas and eagle rays, to clouds of colorful damsels and everything in between.
You will be surrounded by tame fish, an absolute smargassboard for the aspiring underwater photographer, with large schools of snapper just hanging there in the slight curent waiting their turns to be cleaned and squirrelfish and coral cods peeking out from beneath the ledges between the bommies.
Whichever way you look, the shallows are filled with forests of branching corals teeming with resident damsels and the occasional predatory trumpetfish hovering around waiting for an easy meal.
Keep your eyes out for wobbegongs under the ledges and gray reef sharks out in the blue. Manta rays above, banded pipefish on the bottom, and “Fatty” (the resident flowery cod) hanging around.
I've completed hundreds of dives on and around this site, both night and day, and to me it's always produced the goods on every dive. Including several undescribed species that were recorded there for the first time.
The Giant Squirrelfish Sargocentron spiniferum hides in the caves and under ledges during the day and is generally quite shy. However, if there is one or more in residence, it is possible, with a bit of patience, to catch one off guard.
(Photo: Neville Coleman)
There is almost always a Trumpetfish Aulostomus chinensis hanging around, either on the bommie, or amongst the profusion of corals along the bank. This one has chosen a Studer's Rabbitfish Siganus studeri as its ambush host for the day.
The Trumpet uses a host that is a vegitarian, non fish-eating species to get close to its prey, and then strikes with lightning speed.
(photo: Neville Coleman)
Only seen out in the open on cave walls, the Tiger Cowry Cypraea tigris feeds on sponges and algae. During the day it hides away in the many crevices in the cave ceilings. (Photo: Neville Coleman)
Although the Dubious leptoclinides ascidian, Leptoclinides dubius is not present every year at the bommie, at some times during the summer months it grows quite large and may be over 300 mm across. (Photo: Neville Coleman)
Fish such as this Spotted Sweetlips Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides line up in small groups close to the bommie, to be cleaned by Common Cleaner Wrasse Labroides dimidiatus. The fish are so used to divers, that even the rawest beginner can get amazing shots of the cleanerfish going in and out of the host's mouth.
(Photo: Neville Coleman)
When I first discovered this Beautiful Pseudoceros Pseudoceros sp. at the bommie in 1974, it had never been seen or, photographed before. Even today, very few specimens have ever been recorded and it is still not described.
(Photo: Neville Coleman)
Even at Heron Island the Ornate butterflyfish Chaetodon ornatissimus is not always easy to get close to for a full frame image and one requires lots of patience and continual persistance to ambush them for a passable shot.
(Photo: Neville Coleman)
Over 250 species of Stony Corals have been recorded from Heron Island, the Grainy Acropora Acropora secale, displayed here in close up is one of the most brightly coloured.
(Photo: Neville Coleman)
Back in 1974 this was the first image of this species ever taken. It wasn't until 2006 that Black's Tambja Tambja blacki was described.
(Photo: Neville Coleman)