Lady Elliot Island is the southern-most coral cay of the Great Barrier Reef. The land-based equivalent to diving the Great Barrier Reef aboard a liveaboard, divers can step straight off the beach and into a thriving marine ecosystem with the furthest dive site a 10-minute boat ride away. Declared a Green Zone in 2003, no fishing takes place in the area which has led to a boom in biodiversity at each uncrowded dive site. Manta rays, turtles and whales are encountered.
Accessible via a short flight from mainland Queensland, snorkelling day tours are offered for those with limited time while for those who intend to stay longer and dive, the only dive centre can be found in the form of a 41-room eco-resort. The eco-friendly dive resort offers dive courses from Discover Scuba to Rescue.
Lady Elliot Island diving is accessed via short boat rides and each dive site has its own descent line to ensure comfort to divers of all levels. On the east side of the island, a ledge houses three cavern dive sites, including Blowhole and Hiros Cave. The west side consists of many scattered coral bommies and the wreck of the Severance. Dependant of the strength of the current, divers may find themselves drifting as they make their way to Anchor Bommie from Three Pyramids.
Scuba diving in Lady Elliot Island is possible year-round yet certain species are in greater abundance at certain times of the year. Known as the ‘Home of the Manta Ray’ divers can encounter manta rays year-round but they are witnessed in peak numbers May through to August. The turtle nesting and hatching periods are from November through to March while those with plans of watching migratory humpback whales should visit in June through to October.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
