Lord Howe Island is often described as Australia's most beautiful island, and is regarded as the southern-most coral reef in the Pacific. The island's isolation has allowed it to develop unique and endemic marine life, and the waters surrounding Lord Howe Island contain an unusual mix of tropical and temperate marine species - a divers' paradise! It's geology, unique flora and fauna, history, and its pristine state are significant factors in the island's World Heritage and Marine Park status. In addition to the underwater marvels, the island retains a historic, friendly charm which has captivated generations of visitors.
06/12/07 - Our day with the Dolphins!
On Thursday the 6th of December five extremely keen and excited divers woke up bright and early for a trip to Ball’s Pyramid that will be remembered for a long time to come.
At the end of the day, the diving at Ball’s Pyramid was amazing as always, but it was another experience, jumping into the water with dolphins on our way to the dive site, that made the day all the more memorable.
Three quarters of the way into the 45 minute trip, the first dolphin was spotted at the bow of the boat. As Brian slowed down the dolphin seemed to have disappeared until we saw 2 dolphins jump out of the water 100 m off the back of the boat. Brian steered the boat towards the pod and as we slowed down the dolphins decided to stick around for a while for a bit of playtime. Brian gave the okay for us to get in with the dolphins, and Nick, Sean, Sallyanne, another Nick and I (Renee) jumped in.
Below us there was about700 m of water down to the sea floor but we jumped in without a second thought, and what an amazing experience we had! For approximately 15 minutes it felt like just us and these amazing creatures in the ocean, and surprisingly, the dolphins were just as curious about us as we were of them! They swam around us, towards us, and underneath us while still giving Brian and Leanne, who were still on the boat, a show as well. We had approximately 15 dolphins around us, although Brian reported about 50 plus dolphins in the area. What a sight! As a bonus, we were privileged to have a mother comfortable enough to swim near us with her calf.
Words cannot describe the experience with these animals. It was a surreal experience to have these huge beautiful, wild creatures swim amongst us. Once back on the boat (our choice not because the dolphins had left!) our faces were all smiles. We shared our photos and talked excitedly about our experience.
We completed two spectacular dives at Ball’s Pyramid; however, we will never forget our experience swimming with one of the most beautiful creatures in the sea.
Renee Lucas.
26/11/07 - Howea Divers encounters another Whaleshark!
On Monday 26th Novemeber 2007 a group of divers headed to Ball’s Pyramid with Howea Divers for another great day of diving. It was our fourth trip of the season, and on board were Mark and Susan Weiland visiting Lord Howe Island for the first time from the USA, Simon, Gemma and Marg, local workers on LHI island, and the Howea Divers crew Alex, Todd & Busty.
Conditions were perfect: light winds, and calm seas. On the way to the dive site everyone on board were keenly looking for Dolphins as we regularly encounter them and we were all hoping to snorkel with them once again. Unfortunately there were no Dolphins, but what we did encounter was even more special and rare!
Approximately half way to the Pyramid over the trench (which is about 700 metres deep), Mark said he thought he saw a Manta ray on the surface, and since these magnificent creatures are not that common on Lord Howe Island, we decided to turn around to check it out. On approaching the spot, Todd startled us by rushing for his camera and snorkelling gear yelling “it’s a Whaleshark!” He dived overboard, and Mark grabbed his mask and leapt overboard finless. Absolute chaos broke out aboard as everyone else grabbed their gear and joined Todd, Mark and our new acquaintance in the deep water.
The Whale shark wasn’t alarmed by us and hung around for about 15 minutes before slowly swimming off into the blue.
Completely dazzled, overwhelmed and humbled, we eventual all got back on board to talk about this very rare and special encounter. Needless to say, the mood on the boat was buzzing for the rest of the day.
We continued onto the Pyramid, and as always, had two amazing dives. A day at the Pyramid is always special but to share a short time with a Whale shark in the open ocean made this one in particular a day none aboard will ever forget.
The last sighting of a Whale shark by divers or snorkellers around Lord Howe Island was back in 1999 at Ball’s Pyramid when we discovered this incredible dive site.
We are pleased to announce that there was another Whale shark sighting 10 days later (Dec. 5th) by Jack Shick on Noctiluca when he was fishing. Because of these sightings, we are hopeful and confident of more Whale shark experiences this season.
Brian (Busty) Busteed.
27/05/07 - Brooke Busteed and Ruby Charlton-Shick: Youngest people to dive Ball's Pyramid!
Spectacular Balls Pyramid, located 27 km South of Lord Howe Island, is seen as the crown jewel for many divers because of its unique and abundant marine life. Furthermore, acceptable diving conditions are infrequent due to the wind and weather, so those lucky enough to experience a trip out to the pinnacle each year are genuinely rewarded.
Although every diving expedition out to Ball’s Pyramid is a special experience, our trip on 27th of May 2007 was monumental because we had Brooke Busteed (Brian’s niece and my daughter) and Ruby Charlton-Shick (Jack Shick’s daughter) on board, the youngest people to dive at the Pyramid. Aged 10 and 12 respectively, the girls experienced an historical day they will never forget.
Heading off on Noctuluca (a purpose built 7.5 metre Seatamer with a cruising speed of 20 knots owned and skippered by Jack Shick), it felt more like a cool summer day than the end of autumn with a 10-15 knot southeasterly wind and a southerly swell. On board was Brian Busteed, owner of Howea Divers, our Instructor Todd Thimios and myself, Peter Busteed.
Brian taught the girls to dive about a year ago and the trip to Ball’s Pyramid marked Brooke’s 30th dive and Ruby’s 15th . Anna, Ruby’s sister, and Noah, Brooke’s brother, also joined us on the adventure.
The 20 km trip to Ball’s Pyramid usually takes about a 50 minutes, although it depends on conditions. On this occasion we took a bit longer as the swell picked up and the sea became a bit choppier. After passing the mountains to the south of LHI, Jack eased back to about 12 knots to make the ride a bit more comfortable. On the way we saw hundreds of providence petrels, and about 5 or 6 Masked Booby’s; unfortunately the usual pod of dolphins for some reason eluded us this day.
About a mile off the Pyramid the swells eased and Jack sped up to about 17 knots. The girls geared up and were both really excited to get in the water.
We checked the current which turned out to be nearly nonexistent, and Todd jumped in first as a school of Kingfish zoomed through and encircled him. We moved in closer to observatory rock where we wanted to start our drift along a wall. As soon as we entered the water an enormous school of bluefish circled in the surge against the rock making a breathtaking sight.
We descended slowly in open water as the girls are use to a controlled descent down an anchor line. I buddied with Brooke, and Brian with Ruby, while Todd became our official photographer.
Upon descent we passed over a huge cave we call the Dungeon that beckoned eerily; which unfortunately was a little too deep for our girls; both are junior open water divers limited to a depth of 12m maximum. As we cruised along the wall Brian found a beautiful Black coral tree covered in clinging Snake stars.
Floating gently along at 12m the wall beneath us was covered in an array of hard and soft corals. We spotted a school of southern fusiliers (Painted Ladies), several species of wrasse and butterfly fish. Halfway along the wall Brooke caught my attention and pointed out our common Galapagos Whaler Shark cruising about 5m beneath us over the top of the Coral; he was only about 4ft long and continued on disinterested in us.
As we sailed along in the gentle current we could see Todd searching below us in 24m for the rare Ballina angelfish, a rare and endemic species to Ball’s Pyramid. We reached the end of the wall and came to two large bommies about 20m from the wall that runs from 26m to 10m from the surface. Suddenly Brian caught our attention, and below us at about 22m we could see a pair of Ballina angelfish swimming slowly along the ledge. Todd descended and took some photos, which we later discovered he framed perfectly.
Brooke and I slowly ascended to the top of the bommie and it was like we were on top of a mountain looking over the edge down to the deep below. The summit was covered in schools of Damselfish and Fairy basslets, and a large lone Kingfish came cruising up to us from the blue, 30m below.
It was time to do our regulation safety stop we all floated 5 meters below the surface in calm clear water, the congestion of bubbles on the surface alerting our skipper Jack we would be surfacing soon. As we surfaced the reality of the dive made the girls nearly burst with excitement. 
They had seen some of the rarest fish in the world and dived one of the most remote areas accessible to the masses.
Back on deck with our mission accomplished we took some photos and headed back to Lord Howe. The girls are the youngest people to dive Ball’s Pyramid; their proud fathers and uncle succeeded in training two very accomplished and capable divers at a young age.
As we cruised back into the lagoon the girls went onto the bow. I walked up behind them to take some photos and video. Brooke turned to Ruby and said something which I couldn’t hear, but from the body language I could tell: They were laughing and congratulating themselves on a job well done.
The rest of the group congratulated the girls on their achievement, and reminded them of what a special moment it was. In the end it wasn’t just a dive, but the beginning of many challenges and goals they would be setting for themselves. They had succeeded and now felt the satisfaction of success.
Whether the girls continue their diver education or move on to other interests entirely, becoming a diver at an early age is a privileged thing. It teaches self-control, discipline, and respect for the environment, and offers an absolutely euphoric experience. These skills will hold them in good stead for the years to come.
Peter Busteed.
17/03/07 - Brian and Peter featured in Channel 10 documentary "The Last Paradise"
A professional documentary crew from Channel 10 was recently on the island filming a new doco called "The Last Paradise." The film encompasses a wide range of subjects, including island flora and fauna, marine park, fishing, kentia palm and tourism industries, and Ball's Pyramid. Hosted by Natalie Hunter (Totally Wild), the crew requested interviews with number of locals and tour operators, including Brian and Peter Busteed.
During thier week long shoot, the crew called upon Brian and Peter extensively to provide logistics and expertise, accompanying them to various locations including Ball's Pyramid, North Bay, and the Admiralty Islands.
The shoot was a success, and the crew captured some incredible footage of the island and its spectacular marine life. During the Ball's Pyramid expedition, a pod of dolphins swam along side of the boat and Ryan and Shane, the Channel 10 camera operator, jumped in the water and caught the action. Shane also filmed a beautiful underwater sequence at The Aquarium, including multiple Ballina Angelfish, a rare and endangered species.
We look forward to the documentary which should be airing sometime in June or July on Channel 10.
18/02/07 - Seaweek 2007: "Marine Bycatch Matters"
February 18 to 25 was Seaweek at Lord Howe Island, with this years theme: Marine Bycatch Matters. To raise awareness for local children, Pete, Busty and the other seaweek organisers planned special school programs which included snorkel tours, reef and beach walks, and scuba trips. The museum hosted childrens displays, marine slides and videos.
In addition to the school programs, Howea Divers and Islander Cruises planned a full week of activities including lectures and slideshows at the museum, outer reef and night snorkel tours, Ball's Pyramid tours with Ian Hutton, and Introductory scuba dives.
21/01/07 - PhD Candidates Finish Sample Collection on LHI
PhD candidates Laura and Dan from the University of Wellington were recently on LHI collecting samples for their dissertations. Over the course of two weeks, both researchers worked with Busty and the Howea Divers staff, collecting coral samples from many different sites around the island.
Laura's work concerned the microscopic single-celled algal cells called zooxanthellae, which manufacture organic compounds from the energy from the sun by photosynthesising the raw materials in their environment into sugars, starch and other compounds. The zooxanthellae have a symbiotic relationship with the corals, since the coral gains some of the sugars, amino acids and other products from the zooxanthellae, while in turn receiving waste products from the coral tissues and a protective environment in which to live.
We look forward to her research on this fascinating symbiotic relationship.
21/01/07 - LHI Regulars Return to Dive With Howea Divers
John Johnston and Chris Preston, LHI regulars and friends of Busty and the Howea Divers team, have departed the island after an amazing six weeks of solid diving. Keen underwater naturalists, John and Chris were in the water almost everyday, taking photos and exploring some of LHI finest dive sites.
John and Chris first came to the island in 2004 and were absolutely captivated by the island's unique dive sites and the abundant marine life. Last year they both logged over 80 dives, and this year Chris succeeded in reaching her 200th dive! Congrats Chris!
Both John and Chris are also keen underwater photographers, and have taken some amazing shots of the various marine life they encountered on their dives. Check out their image slideshow in the MEDIA section.
16/01/07 - Coral Spawning Event a Success
Last Thursday and Friday night 20 fortunate divers and snorkellers joined Dr. Peter Harrison and Howea Divers for a discussion and night expedition to North Bay to witness the spectacular annual coral spawning phenomenon. Guests were treated to an amazing display as many corals released their sperm and egg bundles, creating a blizzard-like effect underwater.
Based on prior research and statistical evidence, Dr. Harrison anticipated the event with stunning accuracy. Generally, the coral spawning phenomenon occurs at LHI around 8 or 9 days after the full moon in January or February.
09/01/07 - Dave Heads Back to Sydney
After six weeks on the island helping Busty and Pete in the boat shed, Dave "Big Ted" Holden has headed back to Sydney.
Dave was great fun and a huge asset to the Howea Divers team. See you next year mate.
Good luck finding a "real job" Dave!
09/01/07 - Howea Divers Staff Returns to LHI
After taking some time off from LHI to complete her veterinarian training at uni, Melanie Colville has returned to the island to work at Howea Divers for the season.
Melanie has previously worked for Busty, and has completed her Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, and Dive Master training with him.
Melanie has logged over a hundred dives on the island and is knowledgeable on all aspects of island life, including LHI unique marine life.
Welcome back Mel!
09/01/07 - Coral Spawning Phenomenon Expected Soon
Peter Harrison, Marine Ecologist and Director of Marine Studies at Southern Cross University, and a team of researchers are currently visiting Lord Howe Island in anticipation of the annual coral spawning phenomenon that is expected to happen this week.
Peter was a member of the JCU Coral Team that discovered the mass coral spawning phenomenon on the Great Barrier Reef, and has been studying the marine ecosystems at LHI since 1993. He is confident that the coral will spawn this week based on moon phases, in addition to his statistical analysis and research over the last 17 years.
Howea Divers will be hosting two night snorkelling and diving expeditions this Thursday and Friday night to hopefully catch a glimpse of this amazing natural marine spectacle. Persons interested in attending either expedition should contact Brian or Peter immediately to secure a spot on the boat.
Spaces are limited!
03/01/07 - First Ball's Pyramid Dive of the Season
The weather was great over the holidays and the conditions were ideal for the first trip to the spectacular Ball's Pyramid dive sites! Ball's Pyramid is an incredible rock formation 16 kilometers south-east of Lord Howe Island.
Brian and Dave took six excited divers out in the early morning for a full day of amazing diving at some of the best dive sites Lord Howe has to offer.
While the Pyramid itself boasts an abundance of hard corals and seagrasses, the best dive sites are at Wheatsheaf Islet and Observatory Rock. On this occasion, the divers explored two sites: The Treasure Trove and The Aquarium. The Treasure Trove is a 25 m wall dive with huge black coral trees, soft corals and heaps of exotic fish. The Aquarium is appropriately named because of the sheer abundance of fish present at the site, including the rare Ballina Angelfish (Chaetodontoplus ballinae), a fish thought to be extinct until 1998, and endemic to LHI and the Northern NSW region.
28/12/06 - New Howea Crew Member Arrives
After three months diving on the mainland, including the famous Yongala Wreck off Townsville and the Outer Great Barrier Reef off Port Douglas, Ryan Doucette has joined the Howea Divers team.
Currently working on his PADI Divemasters certification with Brian and Todd, he will assume customer service and housekeeping duties at the boatshed, in addition to Howea Divers webmaster, designing and updating the brand new website.
Ryan previously spent three months on the island during the winter months and completed his PADI Open Water Diver with Brian, and has a solid knowledge of the local geography and marine flora and fauna.
