Turtle Bommie - Coral Sea

Esquina Norte, right on the northernmost bend of the reef, offers a mellow dive. You follow a natural channel formed by chunky coral heads, dropping from about 8 meters down to 22 at its deepest. It’s a good spot to drift along, keeping an eye out for cubera snappers and the occasional ray gliding by. We've also spotted cobia and jacks here, often cruising the edges of the channel. The shallower sections, around 8 to 12 meters, are where you’ll find some really impressive brain corals and giant elkhorn formations. Visibility usually hovers around 14 meters, making it a comfortable dive for most levels.

Location
Coral Sea, Australia, Australasia
Coordinates
-23.899000, 152.402900
Type
reef

Best Time to Dive in Coral Sea

The warmest water temperatures in Coral Sea occur in March, averaging 28.3°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 21.2°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 27.9°C
  • February: 28.3°C
  • March: 28.3°C
  • April: 27.2°C
  • May: 25.0°C
  • June: 23.0°C
  • July: 21.6°C
  • August: 21.2°C
  • September: 22.3°C
  • October: 24.3°C
  • November: 26.3°C
  • December: 27.7°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Coral Sea

Nearest Dive Centres to Turtle Bommie

Marine Life in Coral Sea

Home to 120 recorded species including 73 reef fish, 30 hard corals, 8 seagrass & algae, 3 other, 2 sharks & rays, 1 whales & dolphins.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Turtle Bommie

Based on average water temperature of 25.2°C, currents 5 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 25°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories