Lighthouse Bommie
Depth is the range from the top of the site to its usual maximum; "recommended cert" is the mainstream-agency level operators usually ask for, not a legal rule. Currents and visibility change daily — treat everything here as planning ranges.
For most of the year Lighthouse Bommie is a lovely Ribbon Reef tower: turtles wedged into ledges, olive sea snakes threading the coral, rays passing over the sand. In June and July it becomes something stranger. Dwarf minke whales seek out the moored boats here, and under the marine park's encounter rules divers hang on surface lines while the whales choose the distance, often closing to a few meters and staying for hours. No one baits or pursues them; the initiative is entirely the animals', which is what makes the experience so unusual in wildlife diving.
The moment you come for: Dwarf minke whale encounters in June-July, olive sea snakes, resident turtles, easy pinnacle profile
Topography: Narrow pinnacle off Ribbon Reef No. 10 rising from about 30 m
Current: Generally forgiving; minke encounters happen on lines and at the surface where current matters little.
Know before you splash
Hazards: Excitement management around large whales; hold the line and let them come.
Permits & rules: In-water minke encounters are legal only with endorsed operators following the approach code.
Nitrox: Worth it here — profiles sit in the range where enriched air meaningfully extends no-stop time (with the training to use it).
Who you'll meet
Green Sea Turtle
Grey Reef Shark
Nudibranchs
Whitetip Reef Shark
For photographers
Wide angle: ★★★★★ · Macro: ★★★☆☆ — editors' 1–5 rating of what this site gives each style of shooting