The Great Barrier Reef at Lady Elliot Island: you won't want to get out of the water.

Discover the immensity of the Great Barrier Reef by snorkeling or scuba diving in Lady Elliot Island, a small and remote island in Australia.

During our trip along the east coast of Australia, many of the locals we talked to asked us about our itinerary. And almost all of them, upon hearing that we would end our visit at Lady Elliot Island, exclaimed something along the lines of:

"Oh! In Lady Elliot is the best diving in the whole Barrier!"

I have to say that, having enjoyed the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns to the Whitsundays like children, we were rather apprehensive about arriving on this island with our expectations too high.

If, so far, the Great Barrier Reef had fascinated us with its thousand shapes and colorful life, how could we expect Lady Elliot to be even better? Had we overdone it by booking 7 days of our short trip(25 days in total) just for this small Pacific island?

The final answer was:

ABSOLUTELY.

Our week at Lady Elliot Island was, quite simply, second to none.

Lady Elliot Island, is it for you?

You will love Lady Elliot if:

• You enjoy like a kid snorkeling or scuba diving. Regardless of your level of experience in any of these sports, you won't regret coming to this island. However, remember, you must like this type of activity, or it won't be worth it.
• You are looking to isolate yourself from the world and forget about everything. There is no phone coverage (no calls) and the wifi (paid) does not work very well, so if you are hopelessly hooked to the network, this is not your place.
• You are more interested in nature than in nightlife. Here you will find no parties, no alcohol excesses, no young people, no late night music. Maybe, if you are a light sleeper, the thousands and thousands of birds nesting on the island will keep you awake at night. But that's all you will hear, the noise of nature in its purest form.
• You have some money saved. Even if you go backpacking and do the bare minimum, staying here is not cheap.
• You have more than 3 days to spend here. Keep in mind that you could have bad luck with the weather. According to what we were told (and experienced) there are 3 good days followed by 3 not so good days. Sometimes, when the currents are too strong or the tide is too rough, they have to close the snorkeling areas to the public for at least half a day. This way, if you are short on time and unlucky, you could be throwing your money away.

When to go

The months with the least rainfall on the island are August, September, October and November, while the period of highest rainfall is from January to May. The lowest temperatures of the year are from May to September, varying from 17 to 21ºC in August (19ºC for the water) to about 24-29ºC from December to February (24-25ºC for the sea). On their website they have good diagrams that will help you decide the best time for you.

Although you should also take into account Lady Elliot Island's animal calendar. If you are a light sleeper, you should avoid the bird nesting season. Or if, on the other hand, your main goal is to swim with mantas, have the opportunity to see whales, observe green turtles nesting, or the hatching of their eggs, you have to adjust your visit to certain times of the year. This table, obtained from their official website, can give you an idea of what to expect for each month of the year.

We went in early September 2015. At this time, we had almost no rain (only one night out of 7 days). The water was cold, but with a short wetsuit it was enough to last for hours in the water. The sun was shining and the ambient temperature was perfect so we were neither hot nor cold during the day. At night, a small fleece or sweater and a windbreaker were enough.

As far as wildlife was concerned, there were quite a few birds. However, according to what we were told, nothing like what they expected to have there in the following months. They were somewhat noisy, but not enough to keep us awake at night.

In the sea, we saw whales, manta rays, rays, sharks and several types of turtles such asGreen Turtles, Hawksbills and Loggerheads.

Our choice of period perfectly met our expectations, tastes and preferences. So don't hesitate, put on a scale what is more important to you and... enjoy!

Directions

This remote island is part of a natural park and can only be reached by air, as maritime navigation is prohibited and strictly controlled.

The round-trip flight is always contracted through the hotel, in the same package that includes your entire stay. Flights depart from Bundaberg or Hervey Bay/Fraser Coast for a more reasonable price (30-40 minutes flight) or from Brisbane (Redcliffe) or Gold Coast (Coolangatta) (80-100 minutes flight) for considerably more.

These are small planes, with capacity for 8-10 passengers, so the maximum weight of checked baggage per person is 15 kilos. Keep this in mind when packing your suitcase. If you overpack, some of the airports have a warehouse to store your excess baggage. Contact them if this is your case.

About the Ecohotel

Lady Elliot is a tiny coral island located at the southern end of the Great Australian Barrier Reef. It is so small that you can circumnavigate it in 40 minutes. It houses a small dirt airstrip, a lighthouse and an Ecohotel. It desalinates and purifies all the water consumed and saves energy with large solar panels.

It offers 4 different types of accommodations:

• 2-bedroom suites, for families, on the beachfront, with their own bathroom and terrace.
• 'Reef unit's, rooms in blocks of three in three, also on the first line, for 2-4 people, with their own bathroom and terrace.
• 'Garden units', the same as the 'reef units' but not as close to shore (just behind them, actually).
• EcoCabins', wooden structures with parquet floors, a small closet and two bunk beds, covered by a double tent. These cabins do not have a bathroom but you can use the nearest communal bathrooms.

We stayed for a week in the EcoCabins, since they are much more economically priced than the other rooms, and I must admit that we were pleasantly surprised.

The interior is very comfortable, simple, with everything you need. The beds are comfortable and there is enough space for two people. The common bathrooms are always clean, so it was not a problem to share them with the rest of the EcoCabins.

The only difference between the Reef and Garden units is that the Reef units have nothing between them and the shore, while the Garden units (like the EcoCabins) are just behind them, separated by a path and some grass. Both have the advantage over the EcoCabins of having a bathroom and plywood walls. But remember that they are in blocks of three, while the EcoCabins, despite having fabric walls, are individual.

Regarding prices, I recommend you to visit their offers and packages page. Sometimes, depending on the season, they may have something that interests you. We opted for the option ' stay 7, pay 5 days'. With it, each day we spent there cost us a little less than 100 euros per head.

Meals

Meals are served buffet style. It is varied, tasty and with dishes adapted to all kinds of food intolerances (contact them to make sure this option is available during your stay). Fish is a bit scarce compared to the meat dishes, probably because fishing is not allowed around the island.

All packages (or one-night reservations) include breakfast and dinner buffet. The midday meal must be paid for separately. If you book in advance, it costs A$18, however, if you buy it on the spot, it is A$24. In addition, you have the option of ordering individual dishes at the bar for a little less. For example, a cheeseburger was $17.

We took along a few packets of nuts, energy bars, potatoes, cheese and bread toasts to stave off hunger in the middle of the day. This, along with having a late breakfast and early dinner worked very well for us to save for a week.

We also refrain from drinking alcohol or soft drinks. Water, tea and coffees are free and available throughout the day, so we limit ourselves to that.

Hazards

Some people might think that the dangers of the sea are sharks, moray eels, jellyfish...

Well, no!

• The sharks you will find here are reef sharks (white tip, black tip and gray sharks) and harmless to humans. You will see them passing by, usually quite far away from you, but nothing more.

• Brunettes are more afraid of people than we are of them. They hide and try not to come out of their burrow until you are gone.
• And the jellyfish... good news! Lady Elliot Island does not suffer from dangerous jellyfish season. You can swim with peace of mind all year round.

However, there are some real dangers, of which you are informed as soon as you land on the island, to take into account during your stay. And they are the following:

• The sun: Skin cancer rates in Australia are the highest on the planet. So don't skimp on high SPF sunscreen. At the dive store, where you pick up your snorkel gear, they have a 1L bottle of SPF 50 protection available to all customers. So don't gamble, if you haven't brought your own, stop by several times a day. The guys who work here are very nice, take the opportunity to chat with them and find out what animals they have seen that day in the sea!
• Stonefish: As its name suggests, it is camouflaged as a sea rock, so it is usually difficult to see them (the one in the photo was not well camouflaged, but from out of the water it was not distinguishable). Their venom is very dangerous and fast acting, so you should avoid by all means stepping on one. To do so, the hotel provides you with a variety ofreef shoes that you should wear every time you go near the water. Remember, do not step on the coral or rocks with bare feet.

• Snails: Although not all, there are two varieties of snails whose tenants throw poisonous barbs. Sometimes they are found not only in the sea, but also on the shore. They look dead, empty, but they are not. So, for your own good, do not pick up any shells with your hands and, therefore, do not put them in your pocket!

It's that easy, isn't it?

Activities

On land (free of charge)

A large group of specialists offers you a wide range of activities, among which you can find: explanatory talks on a specific topic related to the fauna and flora of the place (turtles, manta rays, whales...) in its conference center; excursions guided by a marine biologist to observe birds, flora or whales; feeding the fish in the 'fish pool' once a day; or learn how the ecoresort works and what history is hidden behind this small island.

Every day they update the information board next to the restaurant. Here you will find sunrise and sunset times, tide/wave/wind information and opening hours of the lagoon.

Diving (snorkeling)

This is the highlight of Lady Elliot Island. Again, if you don't enjoy snorkeling or scuba diving, coming here will not be worth the value for money.

But if you like it...

Lady Elliot Island is paradise!

The hotel provides you with a set of masks, snorkel and fins during your stay so that you can dive at your leisure. Depending on the time of year, the water can be quite cold. They rent short wetsuits for $15 and long wetsuits for $20 per day. We, in early September, rented a short one and it was more than enough to spend hours in the water.

All overnight packages usually include a glass bottom boat excursion plus 30 minutes of snorkeling with a guide. This activity takes place in the normal diving area, which you can reach on your own if you are more or less experienced (and time permits). We were very lucky in this activity: we saw whales, dolphins, manta rays and turtles in one hour. The glass bottom for us is not worth it, as the view from inside the water is unrivaled. However, this is the only approach to the barrier reef that can be accessed by people who do not wish to dive.

In addition to this excursion, you will find the option to do the 'snorkel safari', a one hour trip with a guide in which you will have the option to see even more marine animals, such as manta rays on the surface, reef sharks or a sunken wreck, among other things. But of course, it depends on the day. The boat will take you to places a bit further away from the island, but always close to the free diving area.

Diving

The equipment rental is $45 and the dive costs $65 (including the tank and weights), so unless you travel with part of the equipment, this activity will cost you $110. For the pros, they have a pay 4 and do 5 offer.

If it's been more than a year since you last scuba dived, you get a free refresher dive in the hotel's saltwater pool. The dives are always conducted from the boat, in small groups with an instructor. We did only one and, in our case, we were in groups of 4 divers per guide.

The dive site is decided depending on your experience, skills, desired depth and always taking into account the sea state and currents. The instructors are very professional and pleasant. They made our underwater session a great experience. We were able to see turtles grazing on the bottom of the sea (we went down to almost 20m deep), mantas from below,bull rays, reef sharks (black and white tip sharks in particular), maori fish, etc.

We are novice divers, but we came across experienced divers or diving instructors vacationing on the island, who told us that the diving at Lady Elliot Island was superior, exceptional, compared to many other places. Some of them carried great underwater cameras and were kind enough to allow me to include some of their recordings among the ones I show you in the videos above.

Snorkeling or Diving?

To judge for yourself which is more worthwhile, here is a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of both sports on Lady Elliot Island.

Snorkeling:

• As long as the sea conditions allow it, you can jump into the water and do this sport whenever you feel like it and for as long as you want, without the need of a guide. The only limitation will be your physical endurance.
• The visibility of the sea at Lady Elliot Island is incredible (up to 20m), so you will be able to see the same type of marine animals as when diving, although from farther away and always from above.
• The colors of the coral are best appreciated the further you are on the surface, so snorkeling is perfect to enjoy the Barrier Reef.
• Apart from the wetsuit rental, it is completely free. As many times as you want, as long as you want.

Diving:

• Thanks to scuba diving , you will be able to see certain animals from much closer. For example, you can swim at ground level admiring the grandeur of bull rays, you can see the belly of mantas as they stop at a cleaning station or travel over your head, you will meet reef sharks, leopard or guitar sharks and others face to face and enjoy the majesty of eagle rays as they pass by you.
• The sensation of being submerged in this underwater world, like a large fish tank, at your fingertips... It is something incomparable.
• As a negative point, you will not be independent. You have to stick to the dive schedules (first thing in the morning and first thing in the afternoon) and go in a group. In my case, for example, the journey with long wetsuit, BCD and tank hanging from the shore until the moment I jumped into the water was quite overwhelming because of the weight and heat. But this depends on each person, their physical condition and the experience they have as a diver.
• And of course, it 's not free, unlike snorkeling.

Dive sites and what to expect

Remember to keep an eye out for whale songs underwater, as you will be able to hear them very easily if you are in migration season, as was our case (if you pay attention in some of our videos you can hear them). If you want to catch a glimpse of one while you are in the water, the trick is to look towards the shore from time to time while diving. If there are whales visible on the horizon, everyone on the shore will be looking towards that spot, many with spotting scopes and others shooting their cameras.

On the map at the end of this post I have marked some of the dive sites that you can't miss during your stay, which I list below.

The lagoon

This stretch of coral on the east side of the island is accessible to visitors for snorkeling for 4 hours a day at high tide. You will be advised on the notice board each day of the hours allowed. This is because the coral in this area is very shallow; if you try to swim during low tide you will damage it and yourself. The diving here is comfortable, suitable for all levels, including beginners.

You will find a great variety of colorful fish swimming and hiding among corals of a thousand different shapes, all within a few feet of your nose!

You will also come across turtles, mostly green, some of which like to have their shells gently scratched. If you come across them, don't be shy! There are lots and lots of sea cucumbers everywhere, some hard to see small reef octopus, starfish and huge, uniquely colorful shells.

Most days, during low tide, they organize a reef walk in this area. Always guided by a marine biologist, and treading carefully in the sand with your reef shoes. This walk is perfect to see animals that you might miss if you don't have trained eyes, such as an octopus burrow or a slippery sea worm. I recommend attending this 30-minute walk at least once during your stay.

Lighthouse (Lighthouse) and coralgardens (Coral Gardens)

On the west side of the island is the larger dive area, where the excursions and some of the scuba dives take place. The entrance is limited by metal stakes with a basket to leave the reef shoes. You should always enter through one of these two areas to avoid stepping on and destroying the surrounding coral. Whether you enter from one side or the other will depend on the currents. You will be given updated information on the currents at the dive store.

Here are several snorkeling routes that serve as a guide for you to enjoy the barrier depending on your experience as a diver. The floating buoys will serve as a reference to find places like the ones below (also marked on the map at the end of the blog).

Turtles

You can find turtles everywhere, but, just to the left of the lighthouse entrance, there is an area very rich in beautiful corals where you will easily find 3 or 4 (if not more) turtles swimming together. It is an area they like to be in, in our experience.

Cleaning stations

In front of the lighthouse entrance, you will find two buoys quite far apart. They are worth the effort to reach, as they mark the location of two cleaning stations for mantas and rays of all kinds ( cowtail rays, bull rays and eagle rays).

Very often you will find these majestic animals swimming in circles on these stations, which are nothing more than mounds of coral and rock where small fish clean the surface of any manta or ray that passes over them. It is a perfect place to admire the beauty of these animals (you will find some examples here).

You need days of good visibility, as they are at about 20m depth. Here you can also see huge specimens of adult male green turtles, like the ones at the end of one of our videos.

Sunken wreck

This is a small boat sunk not too many years ago. A perfect place to observe gray reef sharks and other shark-like fish, somewhat smaller. It is located under one of the buoys furthest from the shore, halfway between the lighthouse entrances and the coral gardens.

Shark pool

About two to three hours after low tide, the blacktip sharks invade this very shallow coral area known as the 'shark pool' to hunt small fish trapped in it. The water level is so low that you will be able to see their fins from the shore easily, for the simple fact that it is not possible for them to swim deeper, they have no room! You can also see them at the end of one of the videos.

Coral gardens

In this area, in front of the entrance, you will find the most beautiful corals of Lady Elliot Island (in my humble opinion). Delight yourself with their thousand shapes and colors.

Budget

• Package 7×5 Lady Elliot Island: 1542€ (110€/person/day).
• Extra meal: 72€ (10€/person/day).
• Extra water activities: 250€ (125€/person).

In total, €1864 for 7 days in paradise (€133/person/day).

Want to know what were the steps we followed along our route through Australia? Take a look at the post and find inspiration for your own trip:

• The barrier reef off Cairns Cairns.
• Koalas in the wild at Magnetic Island.
• The breathtaking Whitsundays.
• 2 days enjoying Sydney.

And if you are still preparing your trip, don't miss the practical guide to organize your trip to Australia.

If you have any doubts or questions, or need any other details that I haven't mentioned, feel free to leave a comment below. I will be happy to help you in any way I can.

Useful Links

• Official website of the Ecoresort at Lady Elliot Island.
• Offers and packages section.
• Flights to Australia: Trabber, eDreams and Momondo.
• Get 5% off your IATI travel insurance.

PDF-Guide to Australia

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You could save it on your tablet or phone, and consult it whenever you need it. Or even print it out and take it with you as a travel guide on your vacation.

Interested? Then click here and buy it for just €1.95.

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