North Head Bommie sits about 70 m offshore and 800 m north-west of North Passage, the northern entrance to the lagoon. Michael McFadyen, who dived it in May, describes it as 'a pretty interesting dive site' with dramatic structure. The bottom drops from 12 m to 14 m and then gradually to about 18 m, while the bommie itself rises to 7–8 m, which keeps the whole dive comfortably shallow.

What gives the site its character is the way the bommie is cut up. McFadyen records narrow slits and canyons, overhangs, small swim-throughs, large holes or craters and porthole-like openings that frame the blue water – good material for wide-angle photographers. The gullies run continuously around the structure, so an anti-clockwise circuit from the western anchor point takes you through a series of cracks and overhangs.

Fish life is typical of the outer reef near the lagoon. Galapagos sharks are regular, crayfish shelter under the overhangs, and the reef fish include butterflyfish, firefish, leatherjackets, one-spot pullers and a few trevally. McFadyen saw no nudibranchs on his dive, so this is more of a structure and fish dive than a macro site.

McFadyen recorded 21.6°C and at least 30 m visibility. Being close to the lagoon, the site is a short boat ride and is a good option for a second dive or for newer divers, although it is outside the barrier reef and so exposed to westerly and north-westerly swell. It suits Open Water divers and anyone who likes photogenic reef structure.

Lord Howe is reached only by air: QantasLink flies from Sydney daily (about 1 h 50 min), with Brisbane and seasonal Port Macquarie services. Accommodation must be booked before flights (visitor numbers are capped at about 400) and the checked-baggage limit is 14 kg, so most divers hire gear on the island. Dive Lord Howe's shop is at 2 Lagoon Road beside the Lagoon Beach boatsheds; most lodges transfer divers or it is a short bike ride.

Divers board the boat, which is moored in the lagoon, and leave the lagoon through North Passage, then turn east along the island's north coast between North Head and Fishy Point (below Malabar Hill). The run takes 10–15 minutes. The boat anchors on sand beside the reef or picks up a mooring where one is available.

Lord Howe sits in the path of the prevailing south-east to east trades and winter westerly fronts. North Head Bommie lies just outside the barrier reef at the northern end of the lagoon, so it is sheltered from the south-east trades but exposed to westerly and north-westerly swell and to strong northerlies. It is a short run from the boatsheds and is a common choice when the Admiralty Islets or the southern outer reef are rough.

Winter westerly fronts can put swell onto it; allow a day or two after a front. Visibility is usually 20–40 m, lower after big seas stir the sand.

Anchor about 50 m west of the bommie. Swim east to it and circle it anti-clockwise, dropping into the gullies and narrow slits on the way. Look under the overhangs for crayfish and through the porthole-like holes for photographs.

Finish on the 7–8 m top of the bommie for the safety stop and swim back to the anchor.

Dive Lord Howe (PADI 5-star, 2 Lagoon Road) – morning double boat dives daily in season, afternoon single dives on demand; site chosen on the day by wind and swell. Howea Divers has also advertised dives here.