External Territories
Diving in Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island sits on its own in the Tasman Sea, and its reefs feel like it: subtropical coral and kelp together, arches and swim-throughs in volcanic rock, 20–40 m visibility and endemic fish found nowhere else. Slaughter Bay and Emily Bay inside the lagoon are easy shore dives; the outer sites around Nepean and Phillip islands are boat dives in clear blue water.
THE LOCAL PLANNING BRIEF
Understand the options around Norfolk Island
What this regional directory records Counts describe published records, not bookable trips or confirmed open sites.
There are 29 published site records in Norfolk Island. The recorded categories include reef (11), pinnacle/bommie (8), shore/rock platform (3), jetty/pier (2). These categories reflect the database; they are not a ranking, a conditions report or an assessment of your suitability.
Use the Norfolk 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 External Territories →Ask before booking
- Which territory and jurisdiction does this itinerary visit?
- What park or access permissions apply to the exact location?
- What is the contingency if transport changes?
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 Norfolk Island?
Begin with the individual site and its source notes, then discuss the proposed trip with a local provider. The 29 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 Norfolk Island 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: Parks Australia — Australian Marine Parks ↗. Directory counts come from published YouDive records. Individual site claims remain subject to their source and review notes.
Dive sites in this region
ReefNorfolk Island
Emily Bay
Calm, sheltered lagoon snorkel over coral outcrops with Norfolk's endemic fish, in a World Heritage convict setting.
ReefNorfolk Island
Fish Bowl (Nepean Island)
Pretty cave-riddled reef with eight Galapagos sharks and close to 40 m visibility on Nigel Marsh's dive.
ReefNorfolk Island
Slaughter Bay
Sheltered sand-and-coral lagoon snorkel beside Kingston, with night snorkelling possible and the Sirius wreck site beyond the…
Shore/Rock PlatformNorfolk Island
Anson Bay
A spectacular cliff-framed beach with a shallow coral wall – but with dangerous undercurrents.
ReefNorfolk Island
Black Bank
Colourful boulder reef riddled with caves, arches and swim-throughs.
Jetty/PierNorfolk Island
Cascade Pier
Easy shore dive over sand, rock outcrops and coral heads with visibility often over 40 m, sheltered in south-easterlies.
ReefNorfolk Island
Claytons Wreck (Nepean Island)
Rugged, coral-covered reef at the exposed southern tip of Nepean Island – good for photography.
Pinnacle/BommieNorfolk Island
Cooks Arch
Swim through an arch in a 12 m-high rock that drops to 21 m, with caves and crevices nearby.
Shore/Rock PlatformNorfolk Island
Crystal Pool
A small, crystal-clear rock pool at Point Ross – one of Norfolk's favourite shallow dives when the swell is down.
Shore/Rock PlatformNorfolk Island
Duncombe Bay
Quiet cliff-ringed bay with a sandy slope, a coral wall, boulders and swim-through arches.
ReefNorfolk Island
Fireplace
Distinctive rock formations with coral on the eastern side of Duncombe Bay.
WreckNorfolk Island
HMS Sirius wreck site
The remains of the First Fleet flagship, lost off Slaughter Bay in 1790 – Australia's most significant colonial shipwreck.
Pinnacle/BommieNorfolk Island
Johnnystone Rock
Pinnacle from 2 m to 30 m with caverns, swim-throughs and enveloping coral.
Jetty/PierNorfolk Island
Kingston Pier
Historic convict-built pier – departure point for boat dives and a shallow reef-and-wall shore dive.
Pinnacle/BommieNorfolk Island
Little Organ
A huge arch and swim-through cave with a drummer school at the entrance and resident boarfish.
WallNorfolk Island
Longnose Reef
Coral-rich wall to 30 m with a shallow inshore reef for the second half of the dive.
Aircraft WreckNorfolk Island
Pel-Air Westwind wreck
Largely intact Westwind medevac jet at 48 m from the 2009 night ditching in which all six aboard survived.
WallNorfolk Island
Policemans Helmet
Easy wall dive with overhangs beneath a helmet-shaped rock.
Pinnacle/BommieNorfolk Island
Reids Folly (Nepean Island)
Rock pinnacle with a large coral-covered swim-through arch.
Pinnacle/BommieNorfolk Island
South Rock (Phillip Island)
Current-swept pinnacle to 40 m off Phillip Island, with black coral and abundant fish.
Pinnacle/BommieNorfolk Island
Steels Point
Three surfacing rock pinnacles with lots of coral – scenic but surge-prone.
DriftNorfolk Island
The Crack (Nepean Island)
Drift along a bay of gutters and caves over a carpet of hard coral, with goldribbon cod, black cod and green turtles.
Pinnacle/BommieNorfolk Island
Turtle Arch
Turtle-shaped pinnacle near Cooks Arch covered in coral and marine growth, to 21 m.
ReefNorfolk Island
Cemetery Bay
Quieter Kingston snorkel beside the convict cemetery; best at mid to high tide on calm days.
Details need confirmation