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.
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
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 confirmationShore/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 confirmationReefBallina & 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 confirmationReefBallina & Evans Head
Ballina – Lennox Reef
A quieter northern extension of the Ballina reef system toward Lennox Point, seeing very little diver traffic.
Details need confirmationReefBallina & Evans Head
Ballina – Riordan's Shoal
A more distant, deeper offshore shoal north-east of Ballina, seeing very little diver traffic.
Details need confirmationReefBallina & 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