The boys also discover that coconut and palm trees dot the island. They revel in the massive pink granite rock that rises up out of the lagoon. The raised granite rock measures about four feet high and looks like a jetty. The top of the granite rock is covered with a thin layer of soil and coarse grass. There are also young palm trees, which provide shade for the boys. Below the massive rock, the boys can see the clear waters of the lagoon.

Inside the lagoon itself, there is what the boys call a beach pool. The high tide fills the pool, which is about thirty yards in length. It is in the waters of the lagoon that the boys find the conch shell that is to feature so prominently in the story. After the conch shell discovery, Piggy suggests that the unique shell be used to call the boys for meetings.

Later in chapter one, the boys come across a coral reef, and, of course, they have their first sighting of a pig.

In chapter two, one of the younger boys claims to have seen what he calls a "snake-thing" or "beastie." This is the first mention of the "beastie," which also features prominently in the rest of the story. At this point in the story, the boys harbor conflicting opinions about the existence of the creature. While the younger boys maintain that the beastie exists and that they have seen it in the dark forest, older boys like Jack aren't so easily convinced.

The boys also decide to make a fire in chapter two. After some reconnaissance, they are able to find and gather dead wood from the steep side of an island mountain. In all, the boys discover that their surroundings aren't as intimidating as they first assumed. While survival may ultimately prove to be a challenge, the boys soon discover that, with judicious planning, they can rely on nature's gifts to sustain them for a time.