What is "bombora"

n. (context Australia English) A shallow isolated piece of reef located a distance offshore.

Bombora is an indigenous Australian term for an area of large sea waves breaking over a shallow area such as a submerged rock shelf, reef, or sand bank that is located some distance from the shoreline and beach surf break. In slang it is also called a bommie.

As the wave passes over the shallow area its shape is raised and steepened, creating a localised wave formation. The size and shape of bombora waves makes them attractive to surfers willing to take the risk of riding what is generally considered a hazardous pursuit.

These formations can pose a significant danger even in good weather as a bombora may not be identifiable because it may not always have breaking waves.

The term Bombora was given wide circulation by the airing on ABC TV in 2009 of a documentary titled Bombora - The Story of Australian Surfing, which received a nomination for the 2010 Logie Awards in Australia. The documentary explored historical dimensions of the relationship between surf culture and Australian cultural identity.

Bombora was also the title of a popular music instrumental released in 1963 by Australian surf rock band The Atlantics.

The term bombora is also used for a sketchy surf spot where waves seem to break on the outside.

Bombora is an indigenous Australian term for large waves breaking over submerged rock shelves.

The term has been adopted as a name in various ways:

Bombora Vodka is an Australian brand of vodka. Its name comes from the Aboriginal word for "reef", and surf talk for "massive wave". It is distilled 7x from grapes harvested in the Barossa Valley and natural spring water collected from the Great Artesian Basin.

BomBora is a family steel roller coaster currently operating at Lagoon Amusement Park in Farmington, Utah. It is located just outside Lagoon-A-Beach.