Stephens Hole appears in two operator lists: Islander Cruises names 'Stephen's Hole' among its southern sanctuary zone snorkel sites, and Pinetrees Lodge lists 'Stephensons Hole' among the boat-access snorkel sites.

The name places it in the same family as Erscott's Hole and Comet's Hole – sand-floored pools in the lagoon ringed by coral – and those neighbours give an idea of what to expect. Holes like these concentrate fish, and the southern sanctuary zone is described by Islander Cruises as having the greatest diversity of coral and fish in the lagoon. Typical species at nearby holes include Lord Howe Island bluefish, doubleheader wrasse, McCulloch's anemonefish, three-striped butterflyfish, spangled emperor, catfish and damsels, with turtles and rays passing through.

The lagoon is protected by the barrier reef and is suitable for snorkelling in almost all weather, and a guided boat is the practical way to reach the holes near the reef. It suits snorkellers of all abilities, and divers could explore it if the depth allows.

As a sanctuary zone, fishing and collecting are prohibited, and boats use moorings rather than anchoring. Keep off the coral and avoid stirring the sand, which reduces visibility for everyone. Confirm the location and depth with the operator before planning a visit. Kayaking out independently is possible in calm weather, but the holes lie close to the barrier reef, where the water can be rough and currents run through the passages, so a guided boat is safer and far easier. It is best combined with Erscott's Hole or Comet's Hole on the same trip.

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. The lagoon sites are reached from the Lagoon Road boatsheds: Dive Lord Howe's boat is moored in the lagoon and reaches the holes in about 5 minutes, and glass-bottom and snorkel boats (Islander Cruises, Marine Adventures, Lord Howe Environmental Tours and others) run daily trips.

Snorkellers can also hire kayaks at the boatsheds, but the holes are well offshore near the barrier reef, so a guided boat is the practical option.

The lagoon is protected by the fringing barrier reef on the island's western side and is diveable in almost all weather, which is why operators use it when the outer reef is closed. Strong westerly and south-westerly winds – mainly with winter fronts – make it choppy and push swell over the reef, stirring the sand and cutting visibility. The holes are deep enough to dive at any tide, but the surrounding lagoon floor is very shallow at low tide and boats time runs accordingly.

Visibility is usually around 10–20 m (lower than outside the reef), and water is warmest from January to April.

Snorkel around the rim of the hole with the boat's guide, looking down the coral walls for fish sheltering near the sand.

Dive Lord Howe – lagoon dives used daily as a sheltered option and for courses; snorkel and glass-bottom boat tours by Islander Cruises (daily access to the southern and northern sanctuaries), Marine Adventures, Lord Howe Environmental Tours, Reef N Beyond and Liv For The Sea.