Cascade Pier is the north-east coast's crane launch point and, when conditions allow, one of Norfolk's best shore dives. Bounty Divers described the underwater area as 'phenomenal', with visibility over 40 m, and the Marine Life Network describes Cascade Pier as up to 40 m visibility with 'heaps of coral and fish'. Oceanatik's 'Kingston Cascade Pier 2' – located in Cascade Bay on the northern coast – has a clean sandy bottom with scattered rock formations and coral heads, reef and wall structure, and a maximum of 15 m, rated as an easy dive.

The pier is essential to the island because it is in the lee of the prevailing south-east trades: on most winter days, boats and cargo lighters work from Cascade rather than Kingston. That same shelter makes the pier diveable when the south coast is blown out.

The dive is a relaxed one: sand with rock outcrops and coral heads that hold reef fish, with the pier structure attracting schooling fish. Norfolk's reef fauna includes wrasses, butterflyfish, parrotfish, anemonefish, sweep, morwong, rock cod, moray eels and emperors, with kingfish and trevally around the pier and turtles occasionally seen.

The pier is a working harbour, so diving is only possible when no crane or boat operations are under way, and divers should check first. It suits Open Water divers and confident snorkellers on calm days. It is exposed to north-easterly swell, which closes both the dive and the boat launch. The coordinates here are approximate for the pier.

Norfolk Island is about 1,450 km east of Brisbane; flights run from Sydney and Brisbane (about 2.5 h; check the current carrier). A hire car is essential. Cascade Pier is at the bottom of Cascade Road on the north-east coast, about 10 minutes' drive from Burnt Pine.

Park beside the pier. It is a working pier – boats are craned in and out and lighters work ships offshore – so check with pier staff or Norfolk Island Diving before entering. Enter from the steps on the sheltered side and stay clear of the crane.

Norfolk's north and north-east coasts, including Cascade, are in the lee of the prevailing south-east trade winds, which is why boats launch from Cascade Pier on most winter days. They are exposed to northerly and north-easterly winds and swell, which are more common in summer; a north-easterly swell over about 1.5 m makes Cascade Pier and the adjacent sites rough and the crane launch unworkable. Visibility is typically 20–40 m and often better than 40 m in winter.

There is no stinger season, and cyclones rarely reach Norfolk, although ex-tropical lows can bring big seas in summer and autumn.

With permission, enter from the pier and head out over the sand to the scattered rock formations and coral heads at 8–15 m, circling back towards the pier and finishing in the shallows. Keep clear of the crane and boat area.

Norfolk Island Diving launches here by crane in south-easterly weather; guided shore dives on request.