Little Island is one of the more exposed sites in the Port Stephens islands group, its sheer walls and sponge-lined gutters dropping to a genuine 35 metres and offering a noticeably more open-water, pelagic-focused character than the more sheltered training-friendly sites like Cabbage Tree Island. The exposure that makes it more challenging to dive is also what makes it productive: cobia, snapper and whaler sharks are all recorded here with some regularity, species that favour exactly this kind of current-swept, structurally complex drop-off, and in summer eagle rays add to the pelagic interest, often seen cruising along the wall face or over the adjacent sand. Because of its exposure and depth, Little Island is best suited to experienced divers comfortable with both a genuine wall profile and the possibility of whaler sharks in the water column — generally a non-issue for divers who remain calm and maintain normal diving behaviour, but worth being mentally prepared for given how regularly they are sighted here compared with the area's more sheltered sites.

The sponge growth lining the gutters provides good colour and structure for photography between pelagic sightings, and the site rewards a patient approach that balances time spent close to the wall looking for smaller life against time in mid-water scanning for the bigger fish passing through. Little Island is typically offered as an alternative to Cabbage Tree Island or Boondelbah when conditions and the group's experience level favour a more open, current-exposed dive over a sheltered training-style one. Divers who prefer scenery and pelagic activity over the more shark-centric island sites often rate this as their favourite stop in the group.

Boats depart Nelson Bay marina and run out past the harbour heads to the islands scattered along the Port Stephens coast — Cabbage Tree Island, Boondelbah Island, Little Island and Fingal Island are all within roughly 15-30 minutes of Nelson Bay, considerably closer than the longer run out to Broughton Island. Exact site choice on the day depends on wind and swell direction, since the different islands and their different sides offer shelter from different conditions.

The Port Stephens islands sit on the open coast just outside the harbour and are exposed to ocean swell, though generally less so than Broughton Island given their closer, more sheltered position relative to Tomaree Head and the harbour entrance. Operators choose the specific island and side to dive based on the day's wind and swell direction. Visibility is typically 8-20 m and best in settled autumn/winter weather; it drops after rain and in a strong onshore blow.

Descend onto the sheer wall and work its sponge-lined gutters at 15-35 m, watching the open water off the wall for cobia, snapper and whaler sharks, and, in summer, eagle rays cruising past the drop-off.

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