Tubes is the stretch of eastern wall that sits between the Blowhole and Hiro's Cave, and the island's dive team describes its wall features as very interesting. Depths range from about 10 to 25 m, and the site is part of the continuous reef system that runs along the east side of Lady Elliot. As the name suggests, the wall is shaped into tube-like channels, caves and ledges, creating a varied, three-dimensional reef face.

Angelfish, jacks and schooling reef fish are common, and the wall carries gorgonian fans and soft corals. Turtles, mantas and stingrays pass along it, and silvertip sharks visit the cleaning stations nearby. Because Tubes lies between two named caves, it is rarely dived on its own; the usual plan is a drift that starts at the Blowhole and finishes at Hiro's Cave, taking in all three sites in one dive.

This requires calm conditions on the exposed eastern side and a current running in the right direction. The site suits Advanced or experienced Open Water divers who are comfortable drifting along a wall. The tubes and caves are best viewed from outside unless the guide indicates a safe, open swim-through.

It was grouped with Hiro's Cave in the earlier database pass and is now listed separately. Divers who want to see the Tubes section properly should ask the guide to slow the pace here rather than hurrying to Hiro's Cave, as the wall features are easy to pass by on a brisk drift. A torch will reveal the colour in the recesses.

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. Tubes lies on the eastern wall between the Blowhole and Hiro's Cave; it is normally passed on a drift from the Blowhole.

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). Eastern wall sites are dived only in light winds, westerlies or on calm days when the south-east swell has dropped.

Enter at the Blowhole and drift south along the wall at 12-18 m through the Tubes section, exploring the tube-like features and ledges from outside, then continue to Hiro's Cave's cleaning station before ascending.

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.