Queensland · 27 sites
Lady Elliot Island dive sites
Lady Elliot is the southernmost coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef and the best place in Queensland to dive with manta rays, which visit the Lighthouse Bommies cleaning station in numbers from May to August and are present most of the year. Turtles, reef sharks, the Blowhole cave and the Severance wreck are all within a few minutes of the eco-resort's beach.
- Sites
- 27
- Wrecks
- 1
- Shore
- 1
- Boat
- 26
- Beginner
- 18
- Deepest
- 25 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026Mantas are still on the Lighthouse Bommies most days after the winter peak, the water is 22 °C and visibility is at its best (June–October); humpbacks pass until late October and turtle nesting starts in November. The island's dive shop runs everything from the beach.
Getting there
Small-plane flights from Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Brisbane and the Gold Coast; day trips and overnight stays at the eco-resort, which runs the only dive operation.
When to go
Year-round; mantas peak May to August, turtles nest November to March, and visibility is best in the winter dry season.
Water & suit
Summer 25-28 °C · winter 20-22 °C. 3 mm full suit in summer; 5 mm full suit (hood optional) May-September
Nearest chamber: Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (Brisbane) – nearest; evacuation by aircraft from the island airstrip
Most recorded marine life in Lady Elliot Island
- Turtles 19
- Reef fish 15
- Garden eels 6
- Hard corals 6
- Rays 5
- Stingrays 5
- Sweetlips 5
- Trevally 5
- Leopard sharks 4
- Manta rays 4
- Angelfish 3
- Barracuda 3
- Batfish 3
- Coral trout 3
Plan a dive trip to Lady Elliot Island →Find your diveCompare the top 4 side by sideNew diver? Start here
The most-dived sites in Lady Elliot Island
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to Lady Elliot Island
Built from the sites in this region: an easy start, the signature dives, then something deeper or further. Swap days around the weather; the site pages say which winds and swell close each one.
Build your own Lady Elliot Island plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with the gentler sites while you get used to local conditions and the operator's routine.
- Lighthouse Bommies (Lady Elliot Island)Pinnacle/Bommie · Max 18 m · Open Water
- Coral Gardens (Lady Elliot Island)Reef · Max 12 m · Open Water
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to Lady Elliot Island for, including the main wreck.
- Spiders Ledge (Lady Elliot Island)Wall · Max 22 m · Advanced Open Water
- Tubes (Lady Elliot Island)Wall · Max 25 m · Advanced Open Water
Day 3 · Local favourites
Round out the trip with the sites locals dive on ordinary weekends.
- Scattered Bommies (Lady Elliot Island)Pinnacle/Bommie · Max 19 m · Advanced Open Water
- Second Reef (Lady Elliot Island)Reef · Max 12 m · Open Water
Dive centres and charters in Lady Elliot Island
All Queensland operators →Operators recorded as running sites in this region. Each profile lists the specific sites it goes to.
Heron Island Resort
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Heron Island · Bundaberg & Agnes Water · QLD
A coral cay resort on the southern Great Barrier Reef with an on-island dive operation and sites a short boat ride from the jetty.
heronisland.com
ResortDestination5 services46 sites
Bundaberg Aqua Scuba
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Bundaberg · Bundaberg & Agnes Water · QLD
A Bundaberg-based training and equipment business serving the local diving community and southern reef access.
aquascuba.com.au · 0402 937 765
TrainingRetail4 services21 sites
Lady Musgrave Experience
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Burnett Heads · Bundaberg & Agnes Water · QLD
A Bundaberg-based operation providing day and overnight access to Lady Musgrave Island and its lagoon.
ladymusgraveexperience.com.au · (07) 4151 5225
CharterDestination2 services20 sites
1770 Reef
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Seventeen Seventy · Bundaberg & Agnes Water · QLD
An operation running trips from the Town of 1770 to Lady Musgrave Island and the southern Great Barrier Reef.
1770reef.com.au · (07) 4972 7222
CharterDestination2 services19 sites
Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Lady Elliot Island · Bundaberg & Agnes Water · QLD
A coral cay resort at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, strongly associated with manta ray encounters and accessed by light aircraft.
ladyelliot.com.au · 1800 072 200
ResortDestination5 services1 site
Map of Lady Elliot Island dive sites
Click a pin for the site. 10 sites without published coordinates are not shown.
Loading map…
17 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 27 Lady Elliot Island dive sites
All Lady Elliot Island sites at a glance
27 sites in Lady Elliot Island · click a column to sort
| Anchor Bommie (Lady Elliot Island) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 19 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Chain Bommies (Lady Elliot Island) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 16 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Coral Gardens (Lady Elliot Island) | Reef | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Devils Marbles (Lady Elliot Island) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Encounters (Lady Elliot Island) | Drift | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Forty Five (Lady Elliot Island) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Groupers Grovel (Lady Elliot Island) | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Hiro's Cave (Lady Elliot Island) | Wall | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Inside (Lady Elliot Island) | Reef | Max 6 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Lighthouse Bommies (Lady Elliot Island) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Maori Wrasse Bommie (Lady Elliot Island) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 16 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Mooring One (Lady Elliot Island) | Muck/Sand | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Nemo Wall (Lady Elliot Island) | Wall | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Reefy Seconds (Lady Elliot Island) | Reef | Max 9 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Sandy Seconds (Lady Elliot Island) | Muck/Sand | Max 9 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Scattered Bommies (Lady Elliot Island) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 19 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Second Reef (Lady Elliot Island) | Reef | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Severance Wreck (Lady Elliot Island) | Wreck | Max 21 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Shark Pool (Lady Elliot Island) | Reef | Max 8 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Simmos (Lady Elliot Island) | Muck/Sand | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Spiders Ledge (Lady Elliot Island) | Wall | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Sunset Drift (Lady Elliot Island) | Drift | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| The Blowhole (Lady Elliot Island) | Cave/Cavern | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| The Lagoon (Lady Elliot Island) | Reef | Max 3 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Weekly |
| Three Pyramids (Lady Elliot Island) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Tubes (Lady Elliot Island) | Wall | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Turtle Beds (Lady Elliot Island) | Reef | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
Lady Elliot Island diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in Lady Elliot Island?
Small-plane flights from Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Brisbane and the Gold Coast; day trips and overnight stays at the eco-resort, which runs the only dive operation.
When is the best time to dive Lady Elliot Island?
Year-round; mantas peak May to August, turtles nest November to March, and visibility is best in the winter dry season.
How many dive sites are there in Lady Elliot Island?
27 documented sites, including 1 wreck and 1 that can be dived independently from the shore. The deepest reaches 25 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in Lady Elliot Island?
Yes, 18 sites are rated beginner. Look for the green Beginner tag in the list below, and check the weather notes on each page before diving.
How cold is the water in Lady Elliot Island?
Typically 25-28 °C in summer and 20-22 °C in winter. Most divers wear 3 mm full suit in summer; 5 mm full suit (hood optional) May-September.
Which dive centres operate in Lady Elliot Island?
Heron Island Resort, Bundaberg Aqua Scuba, Lady Musgrave Experience, 1770 Reef, Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort are recorded as running sites in Lady Elliot Island. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Lady Elliot Island?
Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (Brisbane) – nearest; evacuation by aircraft from the island airstrip. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.