Ballina
4 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Ballina →New South Wales
Diving in Ballina & Evans Head
Ballina's reefs sit off the Richmond River mouth, with Black Head and the Riordan Shoals in 15–28 m and the wreck of the Wollongbar nearby. Evans Head has the Goanna Headland reefs. Visibility depends on the river, so locals dive after a run of southerlies.
Custom YouDive mascot art inspired by New South Wales. An imaginative illustration, not a photograph or map of this destination.
Your bearings, in a minute
Ballina & Evans Head at a glance
Start with the local site mix, explore the map and find people to ask about your trip.
- Explore
- 6 site records
- Recorded settings
- Reef · Shore/Rock Platform
- Map coverage
- 6 locations to explore
- Plan with local help
- Meet the listed operators
Directory counts describe published records, not bookable trips. Location confidence is shown separately in the map list. How we check information →
Sources, authorship and review status
Prepared by YouDive editorial with AI assistance. No firsthand visit, equipment test or instructor review is implied.
Independent specialist review: pending. We publish a reviewer’s name, qualifications, date and exact review scope only after the review has actually happened.
Who can contribute and how reviews work →Find your bearings
Explore Ballina & Evans Head on the map
Compare where the recorded sites sit, then open a site to read its access and source notes. Locations are for orientation, not marine navigation or entry instructions.
6 matching records · 6 with a map location · 0 without a usable position.
Ballina – Black Head / Lennox reef system
Reef · 10–22 m
Approximate area
Ballina – Lennox Reef
Reef · 8–20 m
Approximate area
Ballina – Riordan's Shoal
Reef · 12–28 m
Approximate area
Ballina Breakwall / Shaws Bay
Shore/Rock Platform · 2–8 m
Approximate area
Ballina North Wall
Shore/Rock Platform · 3–14 m
Approximate area
Evans Head reefs
Reef · 4–16 m
Approximate area
The local notebook
Where should you start in Ballina & Evans Head?
Use the actual places attached to the local records to narrow your research. These are recorded nearby towns and areas, not verified departure points or accommodation recommendations.
Ballina / Lennox Head
1 site record refers to this town or area.
Look for operators around Ballina / Lennox Head →Evans Head
1 site record refers to this town or area.
Look for operators around Evans Head →Different outings to look into
| Local example | Recorded nearby place | Recorded access | Follow the evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballina – Black Head / Lennox reef system | Ballina | Boat | Recorded source ↗ |
| Ballina Breakwall / Shaws Bay | Ballina | Shore | Recorded source ↗ |
How to use this shortlist
Choose the named outing that interests you first. Compare its recorded place and access with your accommodation plans, then obtain the actual meeting address and schedule from the provider. The site links show the underlying depth, location confidence and source notes. Similar town names or map positions do not establish that two outings can be combined in a day.
A closer look at Ballina & Evans Head
Get a feel for the diving
Our Ballina & Evans Head directory currently includes 6 published site records. The largest recorded category is reef (4 records). Use the mix below to decide what you would like to read about first.
Ballina & Evans Head: what’s in the directory?
A visual guide to recorded site types. Counts show coverage, not popularity or current availability.
Source: published YouDive directory records for Ballina & Evans Head. Bars use the same scale within this graphic; the longest is the largest category, not 100% of the destination.
A few local records to compare
Start with Ballina – Black Head / Lennox reef system, Ballina Breakwall / Shaws Bay. These are examples from different recorded categories, not a recommended route or a list of the best sites. Open each record for its sources, map and review notes.
| Site | Recorded type | Access | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballina – Black Head / Lennox reef system Details need confirmation | Reef | Boat | 10–22 m |
| Ballina Breakwall / Shaws Bay Details need confirmation | Shore/Rock Platform | Shore | 2–8 m |
How the recorded depths compare
A dot shows a recorded maximum. A line joins the recorded minimum and maximum when both are available. These are site descriptions, not target depths or certification limits.
The table above contains the same depth values. Depth alone cannot establish suitability, and records may require correction. Source: the linked site records.
Make a NSW diving weekend your own
Start with one local base and explore from there. A region can contain several different shore and boat options, so the useful comparison is the whole outing: access, support, equipment collection and the time you have.
Compare the shore day with the boat day
For a shore outing, ask about the meeting place, equipment collection, facilities and the actual entry arrangements. For a boat booking, include boarding, return times and what you bring aboard. Neither access label tells you that a site is suitable for you. Share your recent experience and ask about the route the provider proposes for that particular day.
Follow an interest, then check the setting
You might be drawn to a wreck record, a rocky reef or a marine-life photograph. Use that interest to start a conversation about the environment and support involved. A wildlife highlight is a reason to look more closely, not a sighting promise. Likewise, seeing a cave or wreck feature in a description does not establish that entering it is part of an appropriate outing.
Keep the weekend comfortable
Work out where you collect and return hire equipment, where the group meets and how much of the day the activity occupies. Plan meals, accommodation and any non-diving company around those details. If the preferred outing changes, ask which alternatives would still suit the group. A short list with clear arrangements is easier to use than a long list of famous sites.
Three conversations worth having before you book
Shore outing
Where do we meet and collect the equipment?
Check the full access arrangement.
Boat outing
What does the ticket include for each person?
Separate diving from sightseeing products.
Wildlife interest
What observation guidance applies?
Keep sightings as a possibility.
From “that looks lovely” to a plan
Make Ballina & Evans Head your kind of dive trip
Find your starting point, meet the local options and keep your ideas together. You do not need to have the whole trip worked out yet.
Where are you on your diving journey?
I’m just getting started
Find out how a first course works, compare your options and get comfortable asking questions.
I’m ready to explore more
Connect your next outing with useful reading and a conversation about the right training and support.
I’m thinking about teaching
Explore the professional pathway and prepare better questions for a training centre.
These are learning paths to explore, not prerequisites for every local site. Confirm the actual course, instructor and your readiness with the provider.
People to talk to about Ballina & Evans Head
These profiles are based in the region or have a sourced link to one of its sites. Shown alphabetically, not as a quality ranking. Ask about the specific trip or course you want.
Source-linked to a site in this region
Sundive Byron Bay
Byron Bay
Byron Bay's PADI 5 Star dive centre, running three daily departures to Nguthungulli Julian Rocks with training from Try Scuba to Divemaster.
Listed agencies: padi. Check current affiliations and course availability.
Meet this operator →Let’s put the pieces together
Start with the place and your questions. Add dates and prices once you have spoken with the people running the trip.
Open my trips
Creates a new trip with this destination, useful reading and starter questions. Saved on this browser; export a backup from My trips.
THE LOCAL PLANNING BRIEF
Understand the options around Ballina & Evans Head
What this regional directory records Counts describe published records, not bookable trips or confirmed open sites.
There are 6 published site records in Ballina & Evans Head. The recorded categories include reef (4), shore/rock platform (2). These categories reflect the database; they are not a ranking, a conditions report or an assessment of your suitability.
Use the Ballina & Evans Head site cards to compare recorded access and depth, then open the individual pages for the map accuracy and source notes. Sites grouped in a region are not necessarily close enough to combine in one day.
Research operators in New South Wales →Ask before booking
- Where does the trip meet, and is parking or a transfer needed?
- Which alternative itinerary might be offered?
- What local park or access information should we check?
Save the answers with the contact name and date. Separate confirmed arrangements from items still waiting for a reply.
Record your trip questions →Questions, answered
How do I choose a dive in Ballina & Evans Head?
Begin with the individual site and its source notes, then discuss the proposed trip with a local provider. The 6 published records are research options, not a list of trips available today. Match the plan to your training, recent experience and the operator’s current requirements.
When should I visit Ballina & Evans Head for diving?
Choose dates with a provider who runs the activity you want, then discuss seasonal patterns, recent conditions and alternative itineraries. A generic best-month claim cannot establish the conditions at your exact site or guarantee a wildlife encounter.
Can I use these maps to enter or navigate a dive site?
No. Recorded and approximate map positions support orientation only. Confirm the exact access, permissions, meeting point and route with the responsible local provider or manager.
Regional planning context: Destination NSW — beaches and water activities ↗. Directory counts come from published YouDive records. Individual site claims remain subject to their source and review notes.
Dive sites in this region
Search within Ballina & Evans Head, or narrow the list to a recorded dive type. Open a site for its map, sources and access notes.
6 matching site records. Listings do not confirm current access or availability.
NSW
Reef
ReefBallina & Evans Head
Ballina – Black Head / Lennox reef system
A little-dived stretch of reef between Ballina and Lennox Head with a seasonal chance of grey nurse sharks and virtually no diver…
Details need confirmationNSWReef
ReefBallina & Evans Head
Ballina – Lennox Reef
A quieter northern extension of the Ballina reef system toward Lennox Point, seeing very little diver traffic.
Details need confirmationNSWReef
ReefBallina & Evans Head
Ballina – Riordan's Shoal
A more distant, deeper offshore shoal north-east of Ballina, seeing very little diver traffic.
Details need confirmationNSWShore/Rock Platform
Shore/Rock PlatformBallina & Evans Head
Ballina Breakwall / Shaws Bay
An easy, boat-free tidal shore dive and sheltered lagoon dive right in East Ballina — the default option with no local charter…
Details need confirmationNSWShore/Rock Platform
Shore/Rock PlatformBallina & Evans Head
Ballina North Wall
The rockier, ocean-facing outer section of Ballina's North Wall, a step up in both marine life and difficulty from the sheltered…
Details need confirmationNSWReef
ReefBallina & Evans Head
Evans Head reefs
Little-documented reef within an undeveloped national-park coastline between Ballina and the Clarence River — genuinely off the…
Details need confirmation