Scuba Diving Lord Howe Island, NSW

Located 770km northeast of Sydney, Lord Howe Island is one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Aside from the resident marine animals, Lord Howe Island also happens to be home to several rare plant and land-based animal species, many of which live in the natural forests, which cover about two-thirds of the entire area. In these forests, the Kentia palms and the Banyan trees are said to be quite abundant.

Lord Howe Island falls under the general jurisdiction of the New South Wales state and is known to be pollution-free. The waters that surround this area are pure and pristine, making them the ideal dwelling place for about 500 fish species and about 90 varieties of corals. The latter serves an important role in the island waters as it protects the sparkling lagoon nearby. Additionally, the corals therein hold the distinction of being the only coral reef situated in the extreme southern region of the world, in the process, creating an extended, but magnificent line of what appears like white bubbles backdropped against the vastness of southern Pacific Ocean.

Possessing a crescent-shaped structure, Lord Howe Island came into being due to the eruption of an ancient volcano millions of years ago. Officially, it was discovered by Lieutenant Ball sometime in 1788, but was named in honor of 1st Earl Richard Howe, the First Lord of the Admiralty.

While Lord Howe Island is considered as a subtropical forest island where a wide variety of both plant and animal species reside, technically, it is still an island, an area fully cloaked in pristine waters, where various marine life can be viewed in all of its wonders. As such, it is another Australian region where various water sports like scuba diving can get to become highly popular.

In extremely good weather, one can expect the diving areas to experience brisk business because aside from the coral reefs, Lord Howe Island has a wide array of amazing underwater caves and trenches. Among the many diving sites in the island, the Balls Pyramid, the Admiralty Islets, and the Malabar Range are considered as the top favorites.

Dive Sites

Dive Site: BALLS PYRAMID, Balls Pyramid touted as world's rock monolith. (rises 511 m above water and drops 37 m below)
Depth: 22-35 metres
For: Experienced divers only
Marine life: Turtle, ray, sharks, Ballina angelfish
Rating: **** (only occasionally dived, dependant on weather)
Getting there: Situated 25 km south of Lord Howe Island. Travel time is approximately 1hour and 15 minutes.

Dive Site: ROACH ISLAND
Depth: 18-30 metres
Marine life: Angel fish, butterfly fish, Galaoagos sharks, green turtles, small squat lobsters and grey coral gobies
Rating: ***
Getting there: Reached by boat and is about 40 minutes