Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 9 Nov 2026
Julian Rocks – Split Bommie
Tweed & Byron Bay, New South Wales · near Byron Bay
| Depth | 5–12 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Open Water |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Access | Boat |
| Entry | Giant stride from a RIB launched off Byron Bay beach, direct onto a mooring |
| Current | Mild |
| Visibility | 5-20 m |
| Water | summer 21-26 °C, winter 18-21 °C |
| Suit | 3-5 mm full suit summer, 5-7 mm or semi-dry with hood winter |
| Best season | Year-round |
| Bottom time | 50 min |
| Position | -28.60940, 153.62980 (approximate) |
| Permit | Cape Byron Marine Park – Julian Rocks (Nguthungulli) Sanctuary Zone, no take of any marine life |
| Nearest chamber | Gold Coast University Hospital (Southport) hyperbaric unit; Wesley Hospital (Brisbane) for complex cases |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Julian Rocks – Split Bommie
A distinctive split rock formation within the sheltered Nursery, easy and photogenic, popular with course students.
Near Byron Bay · Tweed & Byron Bay, New South Wales
- Depth
- 5–12 m
- Minimum level
- Open Water
- Access
- Boat
- Boat ride
- ~8 min
- Water
- 21-26 °C
- Visibility
- 5-20 m
Julian Rocks – Split Bommie5–12 m · Open Water
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
In season nowBest months: year-round.
Dive facts
- Depth
- 5–12 m
- Typical depth
- 9 m
- Certification
- Open Water
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Depth tier
- Open Water (10–18 m)
- Access
- Boat
- Offshore
- 2.5 km
- Dive centre needed
- Yes – boat access only
- Shore / independent
- No
- Boat ride
- ~8 min
- Current
- Mild
- Visibility
- 5-20 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 21-26 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 18-21 °C
- Water
- Subtropical
- Bottom time
- 50 min
- Dive traffic
- Very popular (dived daily)
- Night dive
- Possible
- Snorkel friendly
- Yes
Exposure suit
3-5 mm full suit summer, 5-7 mm or semi-dry with hood winter
Location
Julian Rocks (Nguthungulli Nature Reserve) · NSW Far North Coast – Byron Bay
-28.60940, 153.62980
Approximate position — not for navigation.
Open in Google MapsDive site map (external) →Primary source: sundive.com.auMarine park & permits
Cape Byron Marine Park – Julian Rocks (Nguthungulli) Sanctuary Zone, no take of any marine life
Nearest recompression chamber
Gold Coast University Hospital (Southport) hyperbaric unit; Wesley Hospital (Brisbane) for complex cases
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Julian Rocks – Split Bommie →
A day-by-day plan for Tweed & Byron Bay with this site locked in.
This guide is a planning aid. Conditions change daily — confirm with a local dive centre and dive within your training. Data & safety notes.
Dive profile
How this site rates
Scores are computed from the recorded data, not opinions. How?
At a glance
Julian Rocks – Split Bommie is a pinnacle / bommie boat dive in Tweed & Byron Bay, NSW, 5–12 m, suited to Open Water divers, about 8 minutes by boat.
Rated beginner: sheltered, shallow and manageable for a newly certified diver on a normal day, though note boat traffic overhead.
Why dive here
- A distinctive split rock formation within the sheltered Nursery, easy and photogenic, popular with course students.
- A photographer's site: bring a macro lens or a wide-angle depending on the season.
- Snorkel-friendly, so non-diving companions can join at the surface.
- Visibility often reaches 5-20 m.
About Julian Rocks – Split Bommie
Split Bommie is a compact but distinctive rock formation within the sheltered Nursery area on the western side of Julian Rocks, easily recognised by the narrow crevice or split running through it that gives the feature its name. Sitting in the same gentle 5-12 m depth range as the rest of the Nursery, it is an easy add-on for divers already exploring that side of the island rather than a stand-alone destination, and it is frequently pointed out by instructors running open-water course dives in the area. The split itself creates a small sheltered channel that concentrates fish life in the same way larger trenches do elsewhere at Julian Rocks: bullseyes and small schooling fish shelter inside, wobbegong sharks are regularly found tucked along its base, and the surrounding boulders carry the same rich covering of sponges and soft corals typical of the Nursery more broadly.
Turtles pass close by on their way between resting spots, and the site's shallow depth and negligible current make it comfortable for less experienced divers and useful for extended, unhurried photography. Split Bommie does not carry the drama of the island's larger swim-throughs at the Cod Hole or Cray Cave, and it is not marketed as a headline site in its own right, but its combination of easy access, shelter and reliable small-scale fish activity makes it a worthwhile few minutes on any Nursery dive. Because it sits within the broader Nursery mooring area rather than having its own dedicated mooring, most divers encounter it as part of a wider drift around the western side of the island rather than a fixed destination.
Getting there & entry
A low bommie within the sheltered Nursery area on the western side of Julian Rocks, split by a narrow crevice that shelters resident fish, popular with course students and photographers.
Both Byron Bay dive operators launch small rigid-hull inflatables directly off the beach: Sundive Byron Bay from The Pass, Byron Bay Dive Centre from near Wategos/Clarkes Beach; check in first at the shopfront in town, then walk down to the beach for the boat launch briefing.
Entry: Giant stride from a RIB launched off Byron Bay beach, direct onto a mooring
Weather, swell & tides
Julian Rocks sits fully exposed 2.5 km off Byron Bay; a big easterly or south-easterly swell closes the outer sites but the Nursery side can often still run. Visibility can change from 5 m to 20 m within a single day as warm and cool currents meet around the rocks. Summer (Dec-Mar, 21-26°C) brings leopard sharks and mantas; winter (Jun-Aug, 18-21°C) is cooler but usually clearer, with grey nurse sharks and migrating humpback whales.
Best season: Year-round
If it's blown out
Sheltered or shore sites within 25 km that often work when Julian Rocks – Split Bommie doesn't.
- Julian Rocks – The Nursery · 0 km · Max 12 m
- Cape Byron headland dives · 3 km · Max 8 m
How the dive is usually run
From the Nursery mooring, swim a short distance to the bommie, work slowly around and through the split looking for wobbegongs and schooling bullseyes, and continue the dive across the surrounding boulder garden.
Marine life
- Wobbegongs →
- schooling bullseyes
- turtles →
- sponges and soft corals
- small reef fish
Linked species have their own page listing every site where they are recorded. All marine life →
Training required
Within the 18 m limit of an entry-level certification.
Depth tiers: 0–10 m easy · to 18 m Open Water · 18–30 m Advanced (25 m+ is a deep dive) · 30–40 m Deep specialty · 40 m+ technical. All courses
Hazards & warnings
Boat traffic on the Nursery moorings; minimal current or depth risk.
Dive centres that go here
Sundive Byron Bay (The Pass) and Byron Bay Dive Centre (Wategos/Jonson St) both run daily boat dives to Julian Rocks.
Operators recorded for Julian Rocks – Split Bommie
Sundive Byron Bay
ProfiledByron Bay · Tweed & Byron Bay · NSW
Byron Bay's PADI 5 Star dive centre, running three daily departures to Nguthungulli Julian Rocks with training from Try Scuba to Divemaster.
sundive.com.au · (02) 6685 7755
Byron Bay Dive Centre
ProfiledByron Bay · Tweed & Byron Bay · NSW
Byron Bay's original dive centre, running daily Julian Rocks dive and snorkel trips from The Pass with PADI and SSI training and an onsite pool.
byronbaydivecentre.com.au · 0494 094 915
Other dive centres in Tweed & Byron Bay
Gold Coast Dive Adventures
ListedRunaway Bay · Gold Coast · QLD
A Gold Coast operation focused on guided local diving and charter access to offshore sites.
goldcoastdiveadventures.com.au · 0404 286 599
Gold Coast Dive Centre
ListedMiami · Gold Coast · QLD
A Gold Coast training and service business serving local divers and visitors.
goldcoastdivecentre.com.au · (07) 5572 0511
Kirra Dive
Named by sitesTweed Heads · Tweed & Byron Bay · NSW
Trades as Kirra Dive 'On the Tweed'.
kirradive.com · (07) 5536 6622
Map
7 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Satellite views



Julian Rocks – Split Bommie: frequently asked questions
How deep is Julian Rocks – Split Bommie?
Julian Rocks – Split Bommie reaches a maximum depth of 12 m, with the shallowest part at about 5 m; most of the dive is spent around 9 m.
What certification do I need to dive Julian Rocks – Split Bommie?
Open Water is the recommended minimum. Rated beginner: sheltered, shallow and manageable for a newly certified diver on a normal day, though note boat traffic overhead.
Can I shore dive Julian Rocks – Split Bommie?
No, it is reached by boat (about 8 minutes). A dive centre is required: boat access only.
When is the best time to dive Julian Rocks – Split Bommie?
Year-round.
What marine life will I see at Julian Rocks – Split Bommie?
Regularly recorded: Wobbegongs, schooling bullseyes, turtles, sponges and soft corals, small reef fish.
What wetsuit do I need at Julian Rocks – Split Bommie?
3-5 mm full suit summer, 5-7 mm or semi-dry with hood winter.
How cold is the water at Julian Rocks – Split Bommie?
Typically 21-26 °C in summer and 18-21 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Julian Rocks – Split Bommie?
Boat traffic on the Nursery moorings; minimal current or depth risk. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Julian Rocks – Split Bommie?
Gold Coast University Hospital (Southport) hyperbaric unit; Wesley Hospital (Brisbane) for complex cases. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Diving in Tweed & Byron Bay
Julian Rocks, 2.5 km off Byron Bay, is the most biodiverse dive site in NSW: turtles by the dozen, wobbegongs stacked in the caves, grey nurse sharks in winter, leopard sharks and manta rays in summer, and more than 1,000 recorded species. The Cod Hole, the Nursery and Hugo's Trench are the classic circuits. Cook Island off Tweed Heads has similar life on a smaller scale.
Getting there: Byron Bay is two hours south of Brisbane or a short flight to Ballina. Dive shops in Byron run several trips a day to Julian Rocks, launched off the beach at the Pass; Tweed Heads shops cover Cook Island.
All Tweed & Byron Bay dive sites and a suggested itinerary →
Sources
Data confidence: Medium. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction
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