Old Settlement Beach, at the northern end of the lagoon, is where many visitors have their first encounter with a Lord Howe green turtle. Divernet describes it as a snorkel site with turtles, the island's pocket guide notes turtles visible here, and Pinetrees Lodge lists it among the three shore-access snorkelling beaches. The name comes from the island's first settlement site in the 1830s.

The beach is sandy and shallow, with sea grass and patches of coral in the lagoon in front. Green turtles come to graze and can often be seen from the surface with only a mask and snorkel. The sanctuary zone at Sylph's Hole is a short swim away, with coral and McCulloch's anemonefish.

The turtles are the reason to go, and the etiquette is simple: float quietly, keep your distance and let the turtle decide how close to come. Chasing or touching them disturbs their feeding. The lagoon's sand is fine and easily stirred, so keeping fins off the bottom helps visibility.

The site suits snorkellers of all ages and abilities in calm weather and is one of the most family-friendly spots on the island. It is sheltered in the prevailing south-easterlies but can be choppy in northerlies. The water is shallow – a few metres at most – so scuba is not needed, and depths here are estimates. Being inside the lagoon, the beach is best at mid to high tide, when more water covers the flats. Bikes are the usual transport to the beach.

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. Old Settlement Beach is at the northern end of the lagoon.

From the Lagoon Road shops ride or walk north towards the airport and follow the signed track to the beach; bikes can be left at the top. Snorkel gear is available from the Lagoon Road boatsheds. Enter from the sand – the turtles are usually in the shallows close to shore – and Sylph's Hole sanctuary zone is a short swim away.

Old Settlement Beach is inside the lagoon at its northern end and is sheltered from the prevailing south-east trades and from southerly swell. Northerly and north-westerly winds make it choppy and push swell towards the northern lagoon, and strong westerlies stir the sand. Snorkel at mid to high tide for more water over the coral and sea grass.

Visibility is usually 10–20 m. There is no stinger season.

Enter from the sand at mid to high tide and snorkel slowly along the shallows, watching for grazing turtles without approaching or chasing them. Continue to Sylph's Hole if conditions are calm.

No operator needed – independent snorkelling from the beach; snorkel gear from the boatsheds or (at Neds Beach) an honesty-box hire shed. Dive Lord Howe can arrange guided shore dives.