Encounters lies beyond the reef edge at the southern end of Lady Elliot's airstrip. The Oceanity guide to the island's sites describes it as an excellent location for manta rays, and it is one of two southern sites, with Sunset Drift, where mantas are often seen when in season. The southern tip of the island catches the strongest currents, which concentrate plankton and bring feeding mantas, along with barracuda, trevally and other pelagic fish.

The reef edge carries hard corals, and turtles, reef sharks and rays are regular. Because of the current, the site is usually dived as a drift, and divers should be comfortable with free descents, staying with the group and deploying an SMB for pick-up. When mantas are feeding, they may loop repeatedly through the group; the best approach is to stay still and let them pass.

Encounters suits Advanced or experienced Open Water divers. It is less sheltered than the western sites, so it is dived when southerly swell is low. In the earlier database pass it was grouped with Sunset Drift and Devils Marbles; these are now listed separately, following the island's own site list.

The southern end is also where humpback whales are most often heard underwater between July and October, as they pass the island on their migration, and whale song is a common soundtrack to winter drifts here. Because the southern sites are the least sheltered around the island, the resort schedules them opportunistically, so let the dive shop know if you are keen and check the board each evening.

Lady Elliot Island is the southernmost coral cay of the Great Barrier Reef, about 80 km north-east of Bundaberg, and is reached only by the resort's light aircraft from Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Brisbane (Redcliffe) or the Gold Coast (baggage limit about 15-16 kg, extra dive-gear weight bookable). From the airstrip, walk to the resort dive shop; boats are launched from the western beach or the lighthouse side and all dive sites are 10 minutes or less by boat. Encounters lies beyond the reef edge off the southern end of the airstrip, a short boat ride (under 10 minutes).

The island has a western (lee) side and an eastern (windward) side. Under the prevailing south-east trades the western sites (Lighthouse Bommies, Coral Gardens, the Severance) are sheltered and dived most days; the eastern wall sites (Blowhole, Tubes, Hiro's Cave) need light winds or a westerly/northerly. Swell over about 2 m from the south-east closes the eastern side, and strong northerlies (spring/summer) make the west choppy.

Tidal range is about 2-3 m; currents are strongest at the southern tip. Summer brings warmer water but more plankton and occasional cyclones (November-April). The southern tip catches the strongest tidal currents around the island and is exposed to southerly swell; it is dived as a drift when the tide is right and swell is low.

Enter beyond the reef edge off the south end of the airstrip and drift with the current along the reef at 12-18 m, watching for mantas feeding or cruising. Ascend with an SMB for boat pick-up.

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort's PADI dive shop is the only operator: guided boat dives twice daily (early morning and afternoon, bookings open the day before), plus courses; boat rides are 10 minutes or less and all sites are moored. Day-trip packages from Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and the Gold Coast include diving. The resort does not offer shore dives.