Lord Howe Island (Lagoon Road boatsheds)
46 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Lord Howe Island (Lagoon Road boatsheds) →New South Wales
Lord Howe is the world's southernmost coral reef, a World Heritage island 600 km east of the mainland with more than 90 coral species, 500 fish species and a mix of tropical and temperate life found nowhere else. The lagoon is shallow and snorkel-friendly; the outer sites, the Admiralty Islets, Erscott's Hole and the Arch, are boat dives in 20–40 m visibility with Galapagos whalers, huge kingfish and endemic doubleheader wrasse. Ball's Pyramid, 23 km south, is a rare-weather expedition dive.

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
Start with the local site mix, explore the map and find people to ask about your trip.
Directory counts describe published records, not bookable trips. Location confidence is shown separately in the map list. How we check information →
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
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.
49 matching records · 49 with a map location · 0 without a usable position.
Pinnacle/Bommie · 0–28 m
Recorded location
Pinnacle/Bommie · 5–28 m
Approximate area
Reef · 12–30 m
Recorded location
Pinnacle/Bommie · 12–36 m
Approximate area
Island · Not recorded
Approximate area
Reef · 1–7 m
Approximate area
Reef · 8–22 m
Approximate area
Reef · Not recorded
Approximate area
Reef · 7–20 m
Recorded location
Reef · 1–8 m
Approximate area
Reef · Not recorded
Approximate area
Wreck · Not recorded
Approximate area
The local notebook
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.
46 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Lord Howe Island (Lagoon Road boatsheds) →3 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Lord Howe Island (about 150–230 km south) →| Local example | Recorded nearby place | Recorded access | Follow the evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twin Caves | Lord Howe Island (Lagoon Road boatsheds) | Boat (day trip) | Recorded source ↗ |
| Blackburn Island | Lord Howe Island (Lagoon Road boatsheds) | Shore or Boat | Recorded source ↗ |
| Balls Pyramid – Ballina Rock | Lord Howe Island (Lagoon Road boatsheds) | Boat (day trip) | Recorded source ↗ |
| Balls Pyramid – South East Rock | Lord Howe Island (Lagoon Road boatsheds) | Boat (day trip) | Recorded source ↗ |
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 Lord Howe Island
Our Lord Howe Island directory currently includes 49 published site records. The largest recorded category is reef (22 records). Use the mix below to decide what you would like to read about first.

A visual guide to recorded site types. Counts show coverage, not popularity or current availability.
Source: published YouDive directory records for Lord Howe Island. Bars use the same scale within this graphic; the longest is the largest category, not 100% of the destination.
Start with Twin Caves, Blackburn Island, Balls Pyramid – Ballina Rock. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twin Caves Details need confirmation | Cave/Cavern | Boat (day trip) | 2–20 m |
| Blackburn Island | Island | Shore or Boat | Depth not recorded |
| Balls Pyramid – Ballina Rock | Pinnacle/Bommie | Boat (day trip) | 0–28 m |
| Balls Pyramid – South East Rock | Reef | Boat (day trip) | 12–30 m |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Where do we meet and collect the equipment?
Check the full access arrangement.
What does the ticket include for each person?
Separate diving from sightseeing products.
What observation guidance applies?
Keep sightings as a possibility.
From “that looks lovely” to a plan
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.
Find out how a first course works, compare your options and get comfortable asking questions.
Connect your next outing with useful reading and a conversation about the right training and support.
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.
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.
Listed in this region
Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe Island's major verified PADI operation, identified as a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort and running the island's certified diving, training and charters.
Listed agencies: padi. Check current affiliations and course availability.
Meet this operator →Listed in this region
Lord Howe Island
Open the profile for contact details and recorded services, then ask about current arrangements.
Meet this operator →Listed in this region
Lord Howe Island
Open the profile for contact details and recorded services, then ask about current arrangements.
Meet this operator →Listed in this region
Lord Howe Island
Open the profile for contact details and recorded services, then ask about current arrangements.
Meet this operator →Start with the place and your questions. Add dates and prices once you have spoken with the people running the trip.
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
There are 49 published site records in Lord Howe Island. The recorded categories include reef (22), pinnacle/bommie (10), shore/rock platform (6), island (5). These categories reflect the database; they are not a ranking, a conditions report or an assessment of your suitability.
Use the Lord Howe Island 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 →Save the answers with the contact name and date. Separate confirmed arrangements from items still waiting for a reply.
Record your trip questions →Begin with the individual site and its source notes, then discuss the proposed trip with a local provider. The 49 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.
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.
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.
Search within Lord Howe Island, or narrow the list to a recorded dive type. Open a site for its map, sources and access notes.
49 matching site records. Listings do not confirm current access or availability.
ReefLord Howe Island
Remote southernmost coral reef with Galapagos sharks and black cod, and the hulk of the Runic on the reef flat.
WallLord Howe Island
Deeper wall with tunnels and cracks through the fringing reef, black coral trees and schooling pelagics.
Shore/Rock PlatformLord Howe Island
Snorkel with grazing green turtles in shallow water a few metres from the sand.
Pinnacle/BommieLord Howe Island
Pinnacle rising from 37 m to 2 m with big schools of kingfish and trevally.
IslandLord Howe Island
Coral walls, boulders and swim-throughs where the Admiralty Islets meet underwater, with Galapagos sharks and good macro.
IslandLord Howe Island
Coral walls and boulders around the largest Admiralty islet with Galapagos sharks, fusiliers and subtropical angelfish in 30 m…
ReefLord Howe Island
Shore snorkel in a sanctuary zone at the northern end of the lagoon, with turtles and endemic anemonefish.
Pinnacle/BommieLord Howe Island
Pinnacle and deep plateau with tunnels, swim-throughs and walls – big black cod, Japanese boarfish and gorgonian-covered walls.
WallLord Howe Island
Deep walls and plateau of Tenth of June with black coral trees, gorgonians and big black cod.
ReefLord Howe Island
Pocket-guide snorkel site listed for endemic anemonefish and three-striped butterflyfish.
Details need confirmation
IslandLord Howe Island
Remote islet beneath Mt Gower at the exposed southern tip of the island.
Details need confirmation
Shore/Rock PlatformLord Howe Island
Rock pools on the north-coast walk from North Bay.
Details need confirmation
ReefLord Howe Island
Guided lagoon snorkel in the southern sanctuary zone with bright coral.
Details need confirmation
ReefLord Howe Island
Boulder reef beneath Malabar Hill with Galapagos sharks, fusiliers and rare angelfish in 30 m visibility.
Details need confirmation
Shore/Rock PlatformLord Howe Island
Quiet east-coast beach snorkel, an alternative to Neds Beach.
Details need confirmation
Pinnacle/BommieLord Howe Island
Channel-side rock in the Admiralty Islets next to Rupert's Reef.
Details need confirmation
ReefLord Howe Island
Rocky gutters with the endemic island longfin.
Details need confirmation
Shore/Rock PlatformLord Howe Island
A rocky north-coast cove on the walk from North Bay, snorkelled on flat days.
Details need confirmation
ReefLord Howe Island
Pocket-guide snorkel site listed for bluefish and coral.
Details need confirmation
WallLord Howe Island
Steep coral wall on the Admiralty Islets with Galapagos sharks, fusiliers and rare angelfish in 30 m visibility.
Details need confirmation
WreckLord Howe Island
The fire-blackened hulk of a 13,500-ton ship, landmark of Middleton Reef since 1961.
Details need confirmation
IslandLord Howe Island
Coral drop-offs and boulders at the southern end of the Admiralty group, good for macro.
Details need confirmation
ReefLord Howe Island
Another of the southern sanctuary zone's coral-ringed lagoon holes.
Details need confirmation
Pinnacle/BommieLord Howe Island
Deep southern reef paired with Gower Pinnacle – big kingfish, spangled emperor and rare angelfish.
Details need confirmation