Level: Resort nearby
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Last updated on October 31, 2022
Lady Elliot Island, known as « the home of the manta ray », is a coral cay located at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. The shallow lagoon fringing the eastern side of the island and the house reef located at its western side provide two very different snorkeling experiences. It allows snorkelers to easily encounter extraordinary marine life, including sharks, manta rays, turtles and even dolphins, above an unspoiled coral reef.
Lady Elliott Island is private and can only be accessed by plane. The best way to explore and snorkel the island is to book an overnight stay at Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, the only accommodation available on site.
Flights are departing daily from Bundaberg (the closest departure point, a 25-minute flight from the island), Hervey Bay, Brisbane, and Gold Coast. Day visits, including return flights, guided tours, snorkeling equipment, and the use of the island facilities, can also be arranged with the resort (from AU$500pp. from Bundaberg). For both of these options, you will find more information on the resort’s website.
To snorkel the lagoon side (area n.2), you can enter/exit the water from the beach edging the resort. Two entry points are marked on the beach. Note that the lagoon can only be snorkeled at high tide.
To snorkel the reef on the western side of the island (area n.1), it is recommended to enter the water in front of the lighthouse, where an entry point is also clearly marked. Before entering the water, check the sea and current conditions with the Dive Shop. If participating in a guided snorkel tour, you will enter the water directly from your boat.
There are two recommended snorkeling areas on Lady Elliot Island:
1. The 300 meters-wide lagoon fringing the eastern side of the island (area n.2 on the map above). It offers a shallow and sheltered area, well suited for beginners. The exploration of the lagoon is tide-dependent: during low tide, the water is too shallow and you will not be able to snorkel it.
You can check tide times at the Dive Shop. Snorkeling the lagoon, you will enjoy beautiful coral formations and a wide array of marine life, from colorful tropical fish to reef sharks and sea turtles.
2. The house reef edging the western side of the island (area n.1 on the map above), in front of the lighthouse. This area is not “closed” by a coral reef, but it is located on the most sheltered part of the island. You can snorkel this area with a guided tour or swim out on your own.
This side of the island is where you have the best chance to see manta rays, which can be seen there throughout the year. However, if swimming with the mantas is the main reason for your visit to Lady Elliot Island, opt for the winter months, when they gther in large numbers. Lots of turtles, sharks, moray eels, and batfish can also be seen in this area, as well as -if you are lucky-, dolphins.
The only accommodation available on the island is the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, offering suites, tents and cabins. A café and a bar are found at the northern tip of the island. Breakfast and dinner are included in the night rate.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
One of the best places I snorkeled! the Manta rays are magnificent! Only for that a great spot. all the rest is a big bonus and the island setting with birds everywhere is amazing!
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
