Meet the site
Sunken Rock is one of the Balls Pyramid sites Nigel Marsh logged in his account of diving Lord Howe. He describes a submerged rock with bommies, gutters and ledges dropping from 12 m to 36 m, visited by pelagic fish and Galapagos sharks, and notes it as a place to find the Ballina angelfish. It is less often named in operator material than Observatory Rock or South East Rock and is probably dived when conditions favour its side of the Pyramid.
The layout is a classic pinnacle dive. The top at about 12 m is washed by the open ocean and gathers schooling fish; the flanks break into bommies and gutters that give shelter from the current, and the ledges on the deeper faces are where the Ballina angelfish shelters. Because the rock drops to 36 m, it goes deeper than most Lord Howe dives, and divers need to plan the deeper part carefully.
Marine life follows the Balls Pyramid pattern: Galapagos sharks around the rock and on the ascent, kingfish, trevally and other pelagics in the blue, lobsters in the cracks, and a mix of subtropical reef fish such as sweetlips, drummer and half-banded angelfish. Visibility at the Pyramid is usually 30 m or better, so the scale of the rock and the circling sharks is obvious from the surface.
This is a site for advanced divers with deep experience who are comfortable in current and with open-water ascents. Details such as the exact position and the usual route are not published, so treat the depths here as a guide and follow the guide's briefing on the day. It is worth asking for if you are after the angelfish and the sea is calm.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Balls Pyramid – Sunken Rock is recorded as Pinnacle/Bommie in Lord Howe Island. The listed access is boat (day trip). Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is Balls Pyramid – Sunken Rock suitable for my certification?
The record lists Deep/Advanced + experience. That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book Balls Pyramid – Sunken Rock through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Galapagos sharks, Ballina angelfish, kingfish, trevally and other pelagics, lobsters, sweetlips, drummer, half-banded angelfish
Location
A submerged rock with bommies, gutters and ledges beside Balls Pyramid, dropping from about 12 m to 36 m.
Facilities nearby
Departure from the Lagoon Road boatsheds; toilets and rinse at the shop.
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
diveplanit.comdiveplanit.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.