Little Broughton Island is a smaller satellite formation adjoining the main Broughton Island group, and it holds its own separate declaration as grey nurse shark critical habitat under the national species recovery plan, reflecting the importance of this whole island cluster — not just the named Looking Glass and Shark Gutters sites — to the species' survival on the NSW coast. As a dive site it shares much of the general character of the neighbouring reefs: gutters, rock structure and kelp-fringed margins in a depth range broadly similar to North Rock and Shark Gutters, supporting sharks that move freely between the various critical habitat points within the broader Broughton Island system rather than confining themselves to any single named feature. Because it is treated as part of the same critical habitat network as the main island, diving here follows the same national Code of Conduct principles that govern the rest of the Broughton Island group — no touching, chasing or blocking sharks, capped group sizes and no night diving on the aggregation.

Local operators may include a stop here as part of a broader Broughton Island day, particularly if the main Shark Gutters site is being deliberately rested from diver traffic, or if conditions on a particular day favour this side of the island cluster. For visiting divers, the practical experience is very similar to diving the main Broughton Island sites — a genuine chance at grey nurse sharks in a naturally varied rocky reef setting — and it underscores just how significant this entire stretch of Port Stephens coastline is for the species' conservation.

Boats depart Nelson Bay marina and run approximately 20 km north-east toward the Broughton Island group. There is no facility on the islands themselves; all diving is via day-trip charter from Nelson Bay. Little Broughton Island sits immediately adjacent to the main Broughton Island group and is typically visited on the same trip as the Looking Glass and Shark Gutters sites.

This part of the coast is fully exposed to ocean swell — trips are cancelled in significant easterly or north-easterly conditions, and operators want well under 1.5 m swell to make the run worthwhile. Visibility is best in autumn and winter, typically 10-25 m, and drops after rain from the mainland catchments.

Descend onto the reef adjoining Little Broughton Island and work its gutters and rock structure at 10-22 m, watching for grey nurse sharks using this satellite critical habitat area alongside the main Broughton Island aggregation sites nearby.

Let's Go Adventures (Nelson Bay) and Feet First Dive (Nelson Bay) both run boat trips to the Port Stephens islands, weather permitting.