Bonner Rocks is a rocky reef off Gove described by the Marine Life Network as providing a pristine coral reef rich in fish life, with the added attraction of an old trawler wreck. It spans roughly 7–25 m, making it suitable for most certified divers when conditions allow.

The rocks themselves are covered in coral growth, and the published species list reads like a tropical reef checklist: angelfish, sweetlips, butterflyfish, wrasse, coralfish, coral trout, rock cod, parrotfish, surgeonfish, damsels and anemonefish. Expect hard coral heads and plates on the rock, soft corals and gorgonians where the current runs, and small invertebrates – nudibranchs, feather stars, crabs – in the crevices.

The trawler wreck changes the character of the dive. Old fishing boats on reefs in the Top End quickly become fish magnets, and the Bonner Rocks wreck is reported to hold gropers, queenfish, trevally, barracuda, batfish, cobia and tuna. The name and history of the vessel have not been published, and nothing suggests it is intact enough for penetration; treat it as an exterior dive.

Because Gove lies at the entrance to the Gulf of Carpentaria with smaller tides and fewer river outflows than Darwin, visibility is usually better than western Top End sites, and the corals are healthier in shallower water. Bonner Rocks suits Open Water and advanced divers who can arrange a boat through local contacts. Its remoteness and lack of published positions mean it is known mainly to Gove residents. Combining the reef and the wreck in one dive is realistic at these depths, but plan the wreck portion first while gas and no-decompression time are greatest, and return to the shallower rocks for the second half.

From Nhulunbuy (flights from Darwin and Cairns, or the Central Arnhem Road in the dry season with an NLC permit), launch at the Gove Boat Club ramp in Melville Bay. Bonner Rocks is an offshore reef reached by boat – exact position is not published, so go with a local skipper or the dive operator. Anchor in sand beside the rocks, not on coral, and keep clear of the wreck with the anchor.

The Gove Peninsula sits at the north-west corner of the Gulf of Carpentaria, and tidal ranges here are much smaller than at Darwin (roughly 2–3 m), so diving is less tide-bound – but slack water still matters at channel and point sites. From April to September the south-east trade wind blows hard (often 15–25 knots), making the exposed east-facing coast and offshore islands rough by late morning; early starts and sites in the lee of islands are the norm. The build-up and early wet (October–December) bring glassy calm days and the best visibility.

In the wet season (December–March) the Gulf side is often still diveable, but inshore sites lose visibility after rain, cyclones are possible and box jellyfish are present.

Descend near the rocks and circle the reef at 10–18 m, then move to the trawler wreck at the deeper end (to about 25 m), where the big fish congregate. Finish back on the shallow reef for the safety stop.

Gove Diving & Fishing Charters (Nhulunbuy, ph 08 8987 3445) has provided air fills, gear hire, courses and boat trips to the offshore islands; confirm current operation before travelling. Otherwise private boats from the Gove Boat Club ramp, and local residents' informal dive groups.