Dive Sites Map
Lady Elliot
island proudly bares the reputation of being one of, if not the best
snorkeling and reef diving sites in Australia. Choose from a
selection of varied and easily accessible sites around Lady Elliot Island
in the biggest living structure in the world, The Great Barrier Reef.
Scuba diving and snorkeling are conducted
each day and staff accompany guests through all dives. Visit the
Lady Elliot Island Dive Shop and be assured with the comprehensive range
of equipment that is available for hire from this PADI Resort Association
member. Choose from boat or shore dives to explore the Great Barrier
Reef. All divers must produce a Certification Card to dive.
Here are a few of the beautiful spots
you will encounter when diving the stunning Great Barrier Reef from Lady
Elliot Island:
THE BLOW HOLE - DEPTH 25M - The Blow Hole is a popular
destination on the eastern side of the island which is accessible
through two entrances. Enter from the top of the reef at 14-16
meters, just a short distance from the mooring or head over to the main
entrance, a 20-25 meter opening on the reef wall. Discover the
depths of the reef in the main cavern which is approximately 20 meters
in length. Encounter some of the local marine life while exploring
the Blow Hole such as Lion Fish, Manta Shrimp, Wobbegongs and the Gnome
Fish.
LIGHTHOUSE BOMMIE - DEPTH 14-15M - Dive the Lighthouse Bommie
from either a boat dive or a shore dive, the set of coral heads just 100
meters from the shore. Visit the majestic manta rays which
frequent this area throughout the year and marvel at their size, some
more than four meters from tip to tip. Also populating this
magnificent spot are marine creatures such as Moray Eels, Bull Rays,
Coral Trout, Small White Tip Reef Sharks, Schooling Barracuda and many
more species all at your fingertips.
THREE PYRAMIDS - DEPTH 18M
- Located just a short cruise from the western side of the island are
the Three Pyramids, a cluster of three large coral heads which are known
as Bommies. A permanent mooring can be easily descended to bring
you almost directly on top of the first of the Bommies which is home to
Cardinals, Anemone Fish, Turtles and Eagle Rays. The Three
Pyramids is a great location for a drift dive, depending on the flow of
the current you can float out to the Anchor Bommies or the Outer
Scatters formore great dive sites.
ANCHOR BOMMIES - DEPTH 21M
- The Anchor Bommies consists of two ancient Admiralty anchors which
rest on the ocean floor and is known as the ultimate dive site at Lady
Elliot Island. Covered in both hard and soft corals, the Anchor
Bommies is also home to Manta Rays, Cleaner Shrimp, Purple Leafy
Scorpion Fish and the large Shovelled Nosed ray. Definitely a spot
not to be missed.
CORAL GARDENS - DEPTH 12M
- Deciding to go for a night dive? Then head out to the Coral
Gardens, a spectacular site to encounter the nocturnal Painted Cray as
well as a myriad of other snoozing marine creatures, truly an experience
not to be misses.
MAORI WRASSE BOMMIE - This site
lies approximately 14 meters north of the Coral Gardens and can be
accessed through a rope trail that leads you through the area. The
Maori Wrasse Bommie is named after the family of Wrasse, also known as
Parrot Fish, that frequent this spectacular area. Continue along
the coral wall to Spyders Ledge, named after the number of shells by
that name found in the area, and encounter the shy Barramundi Cod, the
colourful Clown Fish as well as a variety of Anemone species.
GROPERS GROVEL - Gropers Grovel
is a bommie and coral ledge covered in hard and soft corals
approximately 25 meters deep and nestled at the northern end of the
island. Marine life which populate the area include the Oceanic
White Tips, a species of shark that is common to the reef area, as well
as many varieties of fish and Anemones.
ENCOUNTERS - This spot is a
excellent afternoon drift dive that is thick with marine life and
populated with large plate and staghorn outcrops of coral.
Encounters is known as a popular hang out for the Manta Rays which call
the waters of Lady Elliot Island home. Dive to a maximum depth of
12 meters and also spot clusters of Spangeled Emperor, Redthroat,
Rabbitfish, Blue Angelfish and a couple of Moorish Idols.
HIRO'S CAVE - Populated by a
range of reef fish species such as Titan Trigger Fish, Sweetlip and
Painted Flutemouth, this large overhang, which is not quite as big
as the Blow Hole, has two entrances at 24 meters. Giant fans of
Gorgonia, also known as fire coral, adorn the main wall of Hiro's Cave
and Pelagics are regularly spotted in the deeper water.
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