Mary Island Bommies - Mborokua (Mary Island) – Remote Pelagics

35m Max

20-42m Vis

liveaboard

Site Overview

Mary Island Bommies is one of the signature dive sites of Mborokua (Mary Island) – Remote Pelagics in the Solomon Islands. Mary Island Bommies are isolated coral pinnacles on a sand shelf, swirling with fusiliers, surgeonfish, trevally and resident moray eels in remote, current-swept water. The site reaches a maximum depth of about 35 m, with an average depth near 20 m, and its bommie and pinnacle topography is draped in coral and rock. Marine life is the headline attraction, with fusilier, surgeonfish, giant trevally, moray eel, grey reef shark, soft coral regularly recorded here, drawn in by the strong currents and the rich Coral Triangle productivity of the region. Visibility typically ranges from 20 to 42 m, while water temperatures hold a consistent 27 to 30°C year-round, comfortable in a 3 to 5 mm wetsuit. Conditions suit advanced divers, and with the right guide the site delivers both the drama of its bommie and pinnacle and intimate encounters with the smaller residents. Local operators run regular trips from Liveaboard (Munda staging), and the protected, low-tourism setting keeps coral cover dense and fish life abundant, making Mary Island Bommies a genuine standout on any Solomon Islands itinerary. Divers who time their visit to the calm season will find the most predictable conditions, though the site rewards repeat visits across the year.

Dive Briefing

"The dive at Mary Island Bommies begins with a thorough operator briefing covering the site layout, expected marine life and emergency procedures, followed by a controlled entry and a short transfer from Liveaboard (Munda staging). Descending toward the bommie and pinnacle profile, divers are immediately surrounded by fusilier, surgeonfish, giant trevally, moray eel, grey reef shark, soft coral, with the reef and structure revealing more detail the closer you look. The maximum depth reaches about 35 m while the average sits near 20 m, so a dive computer and disciplined gas planning keep the profile safe and comfortable. Currents are described as strong, and the guide chooses the entry time to make the most of slack or mild flow, using a reef hook or DSMB when needed. Neutral buoyancy protects the fragile coral and the group stays close to manage depth and any surge. The safety stop is completed in open water on a DSMB, and the boat follows the bubbles to collect divers at the exit point for a relaxed return to base. Mary Island Bommies are best dived from a liveaboard on a strong current, when the isolated coral pinnacles swirl with fusiliers, surgeonfish, trevally and resident morays. A negative entry and reef hook manage the drift, and a calm-weather window gives the best light. Water stays 27 to 30°C, and a 5 mm wetsuit suits the depth. Ascend on a DSMB."