Ribbon Reefs - Steve's Bommie

Cairns · Queensland · Australia

Steve's Bommie on Ribbon Reef No. 3 is widely regarded as one of the finest individual dive sites on the entire Great Barrier Reef. This solitary coral pinnacle rises from a sandy bottom at 30 metres to within 5 metres of the surface, and its relatively compact structure concentrates marine life to an almost overwhelming degree. Located along the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef approximately 200 kilometres north of Cairns, Steve's Bommie is the jewel in the crown of the Ribbon Reefs. The bommie's vertical structure acts as a current magnet, drawing nutrient-rich water and the marine life that follows it. Every centimetre of the pinnacle is encrusted with vibrant soft corals in purples, pinks, oranges, and yellows, interspersed with gorgonian fans, whip corals, and massive barrel sponges. The visual impact is stunning even by Great Barrier Reef standards, and underwater photographers consistently rank Steve's Bommie among the most photogenic dive sites in the world. Large schools of bigeye trevally swirl around the bommie in shimmering silver columns, while fusiliers and snappers form dense aggregations in the current lee. Barracuda cruise the mid-water, grey reef sharks patrol the deeper water at the base, and whitetip reef sharks rest on sandy patches nearby. Green and hawksbill turtles are regular visitors, often found resting on the bommie's ledges or feeding on the soft coral growth. For macro enthusiasts, Steve's Bommie is paradise. The dense coral coverage provides habitat for an exceptional diversity of nudibranchs, with dozens of species recorded including some rarely seen elsewhere on the reef. Ornate ghost pipefish, robust ghost pipefish, and various species of pipefish hide among the gorgonians and soft corals. Anemonefish of multiple species guard their host anemones, and careful searching in the sea fans may reveal pygmy seahorses, the tiny masters of camouflage that are among the most sought-after finds in macro diving. A memorial plaque at 25 metres commemorates Steve, the local diver for whom the bommie was named, and has become a familiar landmark for the many divers who return to this site repeatedly. The dive profile allows a deep start at the plaque before spiralling up the bommie, spending progressively more time at shallower depths where the coral density and fish life reach their peak. Visibility ranges from 15 to 30 metres, with water temperatures between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius. Access is exclusively by liveaboard from Cairns or Port Douglas.