North Direction Island lies about 35 minutes by boat from Lizard Island and, according to the resort, was used historically by Captain Cook for navigation. It is a dive site with a sandy bottom at 12–25 m, rich in macro life – nudibranchs, lionfish, eels and triggerfish – with resident eagle rays. In 1770, after the Endeavour was repaired at the Endeavour River (modern Cooktown), Cook sailed north seeking a way through the reef; the Direction Islands helped guide his course before he climbed Lizard Island to look for a passage.

Underwater, the site is a mix of sandy seabed and fringing reef around the island. The sand is the key habitat: nudibranchs, gobies, shrimps and other small creatures live here, and the resident eagle rays forage for molluscs and crustaceans. Lionfish hover near reef patches, eels peer from holes, and triggerfish patrol.

The site suits divers who enjoy macro life and slow exploration rather than big walls or reef sharks. Photographers with macro lenses will find plenty of subjects. Depths range from 12 to 25 m, so dives should be planned accordingly.

North Direction Island is more exposed than the Lizard Island bays, and trips depend on weather. The resort does not offer it as a snorkel site. Lizard Island is remote: the nearest recompression chamber is in Townsville, several hours away by aeromedical evacuation, so divers should dive conservatively, stay well within no-decompression limits and hold dive insurance that covers evacuation.

Lizard Island lies about 27 km off the Cape York coast and roughly 240 km north of Cairns. Most visitors fly: resort guests take the scheduled light-aircraft transfer from Cairns (about 1 hour) to the island airstrip, and campers can charter flights or arrive by private boat. There is no public ferry.

The dive and snorkel sites are reached by the Lizard Island Resort dive centre's boats (reserved for resort guests) or by liveaboards – Spirit of Freedom uses Lizard as the fly-in/fly-out changeover point for its 3- and 4-night trips, and Mike Ball's Spoilsport visits on Cairns-based expeditions. Campers at Watsons Bay must carry gear about 1.2 km from the airstrip and bring all supplies.

Lizard Island sits in the path of the south-east trade winds, which blow strongly (often 20–30 knots) from about April to September. The island's western and northern bays (Watsons Bay, Mermaid Cove, Anchor Bay) are sheltered, but open-water crossings to the outer ribbon reefs (Cod Hole, Dynamite Passage, No Name) can be rough and are cancelled in strong winds. October–December usually brings lighter winds and the clearest water; the wet season (December–April) brings northerly winds, storms, cyclone risk and marine stingers (November–May).

Tides are significant – shallow bay snorkelling (e.g. Clam Gardens) is best around high tide. Visibility around the island is typically 10–20 m; the outer ribbon reefs often exceed 25 m.

Descend to the sandy bottom at 12–18 m and explore slowly along the reef-sand edge, searching for nudibranchs, lionfish and eels, and watching for eagle rays gliding over the sand. Ascend along the island's fringing reef for the safety stop.

Lizard Island Resort dive centre – daily boat dives and snorkel tours for resort guests only; liveaboards (Spirit of Freedom 3/4-night trips changing over at Lizard; Mike Ball Spoilsport) occasionally.