The Lord Howe Island Marine Park ranks among the top diving destinations globally, with over 60 dive sites, many of which are still undiscovered. The waters around Ball’s Pyramid, the tallest sea stack in the world, host a unique coral ecosystem featuring giant fan corals and rare species such as Spanish dancers and the protected Ballina angelfish.
Trip Overview
Dive one of the world’s most remote and spectacular island destinations. Discover the untouched beauty of Lord Howe Island’s underwater world while enjoying the island’s relaxed pace of life.
This small-group expedition, limited to just 12–15 passionate divers, offers an unforgettable adventure in the pristine waters surrounding the island.
Renowned for its crystal-clear reefs, abundant marine life and dramatic volcanic landscapes, Lord Howe Island is one of Australia’s premier dive destinations.
Optional Add-On: Ball’s Pyramid Double Dive
Take your expedition to the next level with a full-day double dive at Ball’s Pyramid, the world’s tallest volcanic sea stack, rising 551 metres above the Tasman Sea.
Encounter curious Galapagos sharks (also known as whaler sharks), along with vast schools of pelagic fish, large fan corals, rays, violet sweep, rainbow runners, amberjack, marlin, dolphins, turtles and wahoo.
This optional 7–8-hour excursion can be added during the booking process and is a true bucket-list experience.
Dates
20-27 April, 2028 (8 days / 7 nights)
Packages
Limited to 12–15 guests
$5,950 AUD pp. – Standard Room, Twin Share (1 Queen + 1 Single Bed)
$7,295 AUD pp. – Standard Room, Single Occupancy (1 Queen Bed)
$6,150 AUD pp. – Superior Room, Twin Share (1 Queen + 1 Single Bed)
$7,450 AUD pp. – Superior Room, Single Occupancy (1 Queen Bed)
Optional Add-On
Ball’s Pyramid Double Dive – $300 AUD pp. (can be added during booking)
Notes
- All prices are in Australian Dollars (AUD).
- Ball’s Pyramid Double Dive can be added during the booking process.
How to secure your booking
- $800 AUD deposit to secure your spot
- Second payment due Sept 22, 2027
- Remaining balance due on Jan 22, 2028
We will be in touch via email for your payment and will provide an invoice with the details below. To check availability and secure your spot, please contact us.
Included
- Return airfares ex Sydney with Skytrans (incl. 20 kg luggage)
- Return airport transfers on the island
- 7 nights’ accommodation in a garden-view room with a balcony
- 1 x dinner on arrival
- 10 guided dives (ALL gear & nitrox included) – you might want to bring your own mask, fins, wetsuit.
- Exclusive charter of dive boat
- Morning tea on dive/boat trip days
- Practical photography advice
- Presentation on the marine species by a marine biologist
Excluded
- International flight
- Travel insurance
- Meals, except for the dinner on arrival (rooms are self-contained)
- (Alcoholic) beverages
- Gratuities
- Bike hire
Requirements for Participation
Reasonably confident scuba diving & snorkeling skills, you must be able to swim at least 200 metres unaided in open water. Guests are required to be physically able to get up a small boat ladder on their own. There will also be some walking around the island, so you will need to be able to do that to enjoy all the island has to offer. Please complete a dive medical if you are unsure or let your guide know as we will be on an offshore island (away from the mainland).
The Island of Lord Howe Island
World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island is just 11km long and 2.8km at its widest. The island is part of New South Wales and lies approximately 600km north-east of Sydney and south-east of Brisbane, and at the same latitude as Port Macquarie.
Walking and cycling are the main modes of transport. Well-signposted walking tracks criss-cross the island, ranging from easy strolls to breathtaking cliff-top guided treks. The pace is always relaxed, with a limited number of visitors.
Lord Howe’s crystal clear lagoon, bordered by the world’s most southern coral reef, is home to over 500 species of fish and 90 species of coral.
The island’s forest has 240 native plant species, half of which are found nowhere else in the world, and while 32 species of birds breed on the island, 203 different species have been recorded visiting.
Climate
The climate is sub-tropical with maximum temperatures rarely exceeding 26°C (79 F) in summer and rarely falling beneath 14°C (57 F) in winter. Given we will be there in April, it is still considered summer time.
Accommodation
Somerset Apartments are centrally located, making it easy to walk or cycle to nearby shops, restaurants and tour operators. Just minutes away are Ned’s Beach, where you can hand-feed fish, swim or snorkel, and the island’s beautiful lagoon with its crystal-clear water and white sandy beach.
Nestled among subtropical palms, hibiscus and fragrant frangipani, the self-contained apartments offer a peaceful tropical setting. Each apartment features a separate bedroom and living area, an ensuite bathroom, a fully equipped kitchen, a covered verandah, beach towels, and backpacks. BBQ facilities are also available onsite. With a grocery store nearby, you can easily prepare breakfast or dinner on the evenings we don’t dine out together.
Itinerary
Guests should arrange their own international flights to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD). Depending on your arrival time, an overnight stay in Sydney may be required before your domestic flight to Lord Howe Island.
- Day 0 (Wed 19) – Arrive in Sydney (SYD)
- Day 1 (Thu 20) – Domestic flight to Lord Howe Island (LDH)
- Days 2–8 (Fri 21 – Wed 26) – Scuba diving and optional snorkelling excursions
- Day 9 (Thu 27) – Return flight to Sydney and onward international departures
Getting There
Domestic Flights
Lord Howe Island is located approximately 700 km northeast of Sydney. Regular flights are operated by SmartLynx Australia, with a flight time of approximately two hours.
If you plan to connect to or from Lord Howe Island on the same day, booking your international flight with Qantas is recommended. SmartLynx Australia operates from Sydney Airport’s Qantas Domestic Terminal 3, making connections more convenient. Please note that you’ll still need to collect your luggage and check in again for your domestic flight.
Domestic baggage allowance (Sydney–Lord Howe Island)
- Checked baggage: Two pieces, up to 20 kg total
- Carry-on baggage: Up to 6 kg
International flights
Travellers from the United States should book flights to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD). Several airlines, including Qantas and United, operate flights from major U.S. cities to Sydney.
Non-stop flights
- Airlines: Qantas, United, American Airlines (seasonal)
- Routes: Direct flights from select U.S. cities, including Los Angeles (LAX), Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) and San Francisco (SFO)
- Flight time: Approximately 14–15 hours (LAX to SYD)
One-stop flights
Common routing options include:
- From Los Angeles (LAX)
- LAX → Sydney (non-stop)
- LAX → Dallas–Fort Worth or San Francisco → Sydney
- From New York (JFK/EWR)
- JFK/EWR → Los Angeles or Dallas → Sydney
- JFK/EWR → Honolulu (HNL) or Vancouver (YVR) → Sydney
- From Chicago (ORD)
- ORD → Los Angeles or Dallas → Sydney
Why Choose OceanLife?
OceanLife expeditions are designed for divers and snorkellers who want more than a holiday. Every journey is personally led by Amanda Delaforce, a marine biologist with more than 25 years of field experience and over 30 years of diving experience. Her knowledge of marine life, underwater photography, and responsible wildlife encounters adds depth to every adventure. Each destination is carefully selected for its exceptional marine encounters and trusted local operators. Meet Amanda
Ready for Your Next Adventure?
We look forward to sharing this unforgettable journey with you. Ready to experience Lord Howe Island with OceanLife? Spaces are limited to just 12–15 guests. Secure your spot today or contact us with any questions.
Bookings, Payment, Cancellation Policy and Force Majeure in relation to the Tour
TERMS & CONDITIONS
These Terms & Conditions apply to all bookings made with Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd (ABN 26 661 237 734), trading as OceanLife Scuba Expeditions (“OceanLife Scuba Expeditions”, “we”, “us” or “our”).
1. Insurance
- OceanLife Scuba Expeditions highly recommends that all guests purchase comprehensive personal travel and dive insurance as soon as possible after confirming their travel plans. Your insurance policy should provide adequate cover for, at a minimum, trip cancellation, medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, scuba diving activities, missed or delayed flights, baggage loss or delay, travel interruptions and personal liability. We recommend Dive Assure or DAN for dive insurance. Dive Assure offers both annual and short-term (per trip) Dive and Travel Insurance policies. You can purchase a policy here – https://app.diveassure.com/#/registration/main/process/0/int/0/18669/en-intl
- Evidence of adequate travel and dive insurance must be provided prior to departure.
- All diving, snorkelling and in-water activities are conducted by our appointed in-country operator(s), including liveaboard vessel operators and local dive centres, who maintain responsibility for their own operational procedures, safety standards and applicable insurance requirements. While participating in diving, snorkelling or swimming activities, you are required to comply with all instructions given by the Captain, Dive Instructor, Divemaster or other authorised crew members.
2. Bookings and Payments
- Bookings made more than 100 days before the commencement of the trip require a non-refundable deposit of AUD $800 per passenger.
- All deposits are non-refundable.
- Bookings made within 100 days of the commencement of the trip require payment in full to secure the booking.
- Final payment is due no later than 100 days before the commencement of the trip. A final payment reminder will be sent prior to the due date.
- Each guest is required to complete a Dive Trip Questionnaire (which may include a Dive Medical Assessment where applicable) before receiving final trip confirmation. The completed questionnaire must be returned to OceanLife Scuba Expeditions before final payment is made.
- Guests are required to disclose all relevant medical conditions honestly and completely. Failure to disclose relevant medical information, or providing false or misleading information, may result in OceanLife Scuba Expeditions refusing participation where the condition may affect the safety of the guest, other participants or the safe operation of the expedition.
- Guests are responsible for ensuring they hold valid passports, visas, permits, vaccinations and any other documentation required for entry into the destination country or countries. OceanLife Scuba Expeditions accepts no responsibility for denied boarding, refused entry or additional costs resulting from incomplete, expired or invalid travel documentation.
3. Amendment and Cancellation Policy
- All deposits are non-refundable.
- The total trip cost becomes 100% non-refundable within 100 days of the scheduled departure date. This applies to deposits and all subsequent payments, except where otherwise required by law.
- If you cancel your booking 100 days or more before departure, and your place can be resold, a trip credit equal to your remaining balance (less a USD $300 administration fee) will be issued. The credit must be used on another OceanLife Scuba Expeditions trip departing within two (2) years of the cancellation date.
- If you cancel your booking within 99 days of departure, no refund or trip credit will be issued.
- If a guest misses the commencement of the expedition or any part of the itinerary due to delayed or cancelled flights, missed connections, immigration delays, baggage delays, weather events or other travel disruptions, no refund, credit or alternative arrangements will be provided by OceanLife Scuba Expeditions. Any eligible costs should be claimed through the guest’s travel insurance policy, where covered.
- OceanLife Scuba Expeditions reserves the right to amend itineraries, accommodation, vessels, dive sites, schedules, guides or expedition leaders where reasonably necessary due to weather, sea conditions, safety considerations, wildlife activity, mechanical issues, operational requirements, government directives or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control. Such changes do not constitute grounds for compensation or refund.
4. Force Majeure
- OceanLife Scuba Expeditions shall not be liable for any delay, alteration, cancellation or failure to deliver a trip where such circumstances are caused by events beyond our reasonable control.
- A Force Majeure Event includes, but is not limited to, acts of God, war, terrorism, fire, flood, severe weather, natural disasters, epidemics or pandemics, industrial disputes, strikes, civil unrest, acts of government or regulatory authorities, the inability to obtain licences or permits, delays caused by subcontractors or suppliers, telecommunications failures, material shortages or any other event beyond our reasonable control.
5. Guest Responsibilities
- Guests participating in scuba diving must hold the minimum certification required for the expedition and provide proof of certification if requested.
- Guests agree to dive within the limits of their certification, experience and current medical fitness, and to follow all instructions provided by dive professionals, vessel crew and expedition staff.
- Guests are responsible for arriving at the designated departure location at the required time. OceanLife Scuba Expeditions is not responsible for missed departures resulting from delayed or cancelled flights, missed connections, immigration delays, baggage delays, weather events or other travel disruptions beyond our reasonable control. Any costs, losses or expenses incurred as a result of these disruptions are the responsibility of the guest and should be claimed through the guest’s travel insurance policy, where covered.
- Guests are responsible for the care and security of their own dive equipment, camera equipment, luggage and personal belongings throughout the expedition.
- Wildlife sightings are natural events and cannot be guaranteed. OceanLife Scuba Expeditions makes no representation or warranty that any particular marine species, wildlife encounter or photographic opportunity will occur during an expedition.
- OceanLife Scuba Expeditions reserves the right to refuse participation or remove any guest from an expedition, without refund, where their behaviour is considered unsafe, abusive, disruptive, illegal, intoxicated, or likely to place themselves, other guests, crew members or the expedition at risk.
6. Liability and Obligations
- OceanLife Scuba Expeditions acts as an expedition organiser and booking agent for accommodation providers, liveaboards, dive operators, transport providers and other third-party suppliers.
- We choose our in-country dive operators carefully. We check that they hold the correct permits, licences, vessel registrations and insurance before we work with them. Once you’re on the water, they’re responsible for running the trip safely under their own procedures, not ours.
- To the maximum extent permitted by law, OceanLife Scuba Expeditions accepts no responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, delay or expense arising from the acts, omissions or default of any third-party supplier involved in delivering any component of the expedition.
- Participation in scuba diving, snorkelling and other adventure activities involves inherent risks which may result in serious injury, permanent disability or death. These risks include, but are not limited to, decompression sickness, arterial gas embolism, hyperbaric injuries requiring recompression treatment, equipment failure, adverse weather, strong currents, remote locations where emergency medical assistance may be delayed, and encounters with wild marine life that may result in stings, bites or other injuries.
- Guests acknowledge these inherent risks and voluntarily participate in these activities at their own risk. Participants are responsible for ensuring they are medically fit to participate, exercising reasonable care, following all safety instructions and complying with directions provided by the vessel crew, dive professionals and expedition leaders.
- To the maximum extent permitted by law, OceanLife Scuba Expeditions shall not be liable for any personal injury, illness or death suffered directly or indirectly as a result of participation in the expedition or associated activities. We are also not liable for any consequential loss, including loss of income, profits, enjoyment or opportunity, nor for the loss, theft or damage of personal belongings before, during or after the expedition.
- Nothing in these Terms & Conditions excludes, restricts or modifies any rights or remedies that cannot lawfully be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law or any other applicable legislation.
7. Privacy & Data Collection Notice
OceanLife Scuba Expeditions collects personal information, including contact details, payment information and, where relevant to trip participation, health and medical information, in order to process bookings, arrange travel and diving activities, and communicate with guests. Health information collected through our Dive Trip Questionnaire is used solely to assess fitness to dive and may be shared with our appointed in-country dive operators for safety purposes. We do not sell personal information to third parties. By using this website or booking a trip, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described here.
8. Photography
During the expedition, OceanLife Scuba Expeditions and its representatives may capture photographs and video footage for promotional, educational and marketing purposes. Unless you notify us in writing before departure, you consent to the use of images or video in which you may appear on our website, social media channels, printed publications and other promotional material without compensation.
9. Governing Law
These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of Queensland, Australia. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms & Conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Queensland, Australia.
By placing a booking with Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd (ABN 26 661 237 734), trading as OceanLife Scuba Expeditions, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and accepted these Terms & Conditions and the Cancellation Policy.
