Spiders Ledge is a wall at the northern end of Lady Elliot Island, described by the Oceanity guide as spectacular, with some of the most incredible coral cover on the island, a large drop-off into deep water and some of the clearest visibility. It is sheltered in the prevailing south-easterlies, making it a regular site. The wall provides plenty of structure.

Moray eels and lionfish live in the crevices, fusilier schools and trevally move along the edge, and large coral trout patrol the reef. The resort notes abundant macro subjects, including nudibranchs and mantis shrimp, and marine life writers add shells to the list. The combination of coral, wall and clear water makes Spiders Ledge one of the best general reef dives at Lady Elliot, and a good contrast to the sandy manta sites on the western side.

It suits Open Water divers comfortable with a wall, and photographers can use both macro and wide-angle setups. Maori Wrasse Bommie lies a little to the south, sitting away from the wall, and Shark Pool is past the northern end of Coral Gardens, so the northern and north-western part of the island offers several complementary dives. When northerly winds blow, the site becomes choppy and the dive team moves to the southern or eastern sites instead.

The site's structure and water clarity make it a favourite of the resort's dive guides for their own dives, and it is well worth requesting on a calm day with a southerly or south-easterly wind, when the northern side is at its calmest.

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. Spiders Ledge is at the island's sheltered northern end, a few minutes by boat.

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 northern side is sheltered in south-easterlies but exposed to northerlies.

Descend at the top of the ledge and drop down the wall to 15-20 m, following it with the wall on one shoulder while checking crevices for morays and mantis shrimp. Return along the upper wall and reef edge for the safety stop.

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.