Lyra Reef

Lyra Reef is a remote submerged coral atoll, about 40 km in diameter, extending over an area of 1300 km2. It lies about 200 km north-east of New Ireland in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea, and 150 km north-east of Simberi Island, the closest island, and about the same distance north-west of the Nuguria Islands.

The depths around the perimeter of the reef are generally less than 37 m and in places are less than 11 m. The least depth is 6.1 m on its north side. Within the reef, in the lagoon, there are depths of exceeding 183 m. A gap on the north-west side of the reef gives access to this deep water. Depths of more than 2700 m are found within 8 km of the reef.