Banana Bommie - Milne Bay
Banana Bommie is a popular spot in Milne Bay, and for good reason. This sizable pinnacle rises close to the surface, its coral-encrusted walls attracting a steady stream of pelagics. We’ve often watched impressive schools of batfish and trevally hovering in the current, creating a shimmering wall of silver. Down on the bommie itself, the nooks and crannies hold plenty of smaller critters for those who like to take their time. While not an every-dive occurrence, we’ve occasionally spotted a grey reef shark cruising past, a welcome bonus. It’s a solid dive for photographers and those who appreciate a busy, lively reef.
- Location
- Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -10.300000, 150.700000
- Type
- reef
Best Time to Dive in Milne Bay
The warmest water temperatures in Milne Bay occur in January, averaging 31.0°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 31.0°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 31.0°C (air: 28.1°C)
- February: 31.0°C (air: 28.0°C)
- March: 31.0°C (air: 28.1°C)
- April: 31.0°C (air: 27.8°C)
- May: 31.0°C (air: 27.6°C)
- June: 31.0°C (air: 27.1°C)
- July: 31.0°C (air: 26.8°C)
- August: 31.0°C (air: 26.6°C)
- September: 31.0°C (air: 26.8°C)
- October: 31.0°C (air: 27.4°C)
- November: 31.0°C (air: 27.8°C)
- December: 31.0°C (air: 28.2°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Milne Bay
- ADMIRAL WILEY - 0m (wreck)
- American PT Cruisers
- BlackJack
- Dart Reefs (reef)
- Dinah’s Beach
- Dorasi Shoal (pinnacle)
- Lauadi
- Milne Bay - 5-20m (reef)
- Paradise Point (cenote)
- Pocklington Reef (reef)
- The Joelle
Nearest Dive Centres to Banana Bommie
Marine Life in Milne Bay
Home to 254 recorded species including 208 reef fish, 12 sea cucumbers, 8 hard corals, 6 sea snails & nudibranchs, 6 sharks & rays, 5 clams & mussels.
Notable Species
- Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
- Burrowing urchin (Echinometra mathaei) - Sea Urchins
- Black Marlin (Istiompax indica) - Reef Fish
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Dusky Parrotfish (Scarus niger) - Reef Fish
- Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
- Redfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus) - Reef Fish
- Blackedge thicklip wrasse (Hemigymnus melapterus) - Reef Fish
- Butterfly fish (Chaetodon vagabundus) - Reef Fish
- Bear Paw Clam (Hippopus hippopus) - Clams & Mussels
- Bleeker's Parrotfish (Chlorurus bleekeri) - Reef Fish
- Boring Clam (Tridacna crocea) - Clams & Mussels
- Saddled Parrotfish (Scarus dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
- Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Kihikihi (Zanclus cornutus) - Reef Fish
- Saddleback Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium) - Reef Fish
- Banded-tail Coral-cod (Cephalopholis urodeta) - Reef Fish
- Banded maori wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Banana Bommie
Based on average water temperature of 31.0°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 31°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