Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is a stunning eco-friendly dive resort located on a remote coral cay at the southern tip of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Known for its crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and abundant marine life, the resort offers unforgettable snorkeling and diving experiences with manta rays, turtles, and reef sharks. As a designated Green Zone and Advanced Ecotourism Certified destination, it’s an ideal choice for nature lovers, divers, and underwater photographers seeking a sustainable island getaway in one of the world’s most pristine marine environments.

How To Get There

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is located about 80 km off the coast of Bundaberg and is accessible only by scenic light aircraft. Flights to the island depart daily from the Gold Coast, Brisbane (Redcliffe), Hervey Bay, and Bundaberg, with travel times ranging from 30 to 100 minutes. All flight bookings are arranged through the resort at the time of reservation.

Dive Overview

Lady Elliot Island is known as the “Home of the Manta Ray” and offers world-class diving on the southern Great Barrier Reef. With over 20 dive sites, exceptional visibility, and abundant marine life including turtles, reef sharks, and seasonal manta rays, it’s a top choice for both new and experienced divers.

Lady Elliot Island has also earned its reputation as an outstanding snorkel destination, offering experiences for every level of snorkeler. The shallow lagoon provides calm, crystal-clear waters perfect for beginners and families, where vibrant corals, giant clams, reef fish, and friendly turtles are easily spotted just steps from the beach. On the deeper water side, more experienced snorkelers can drift over coral bommies and reef ledges where manta rays, reef sharks, and large schools of fish gather.

[Read More: Australia Dive Travel Guide]

Accommodation Overview

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort offers a range of eco-friendly accommodation for up to 114 guests, designed to minimize environmental impact while providing comfort and relaxation. All units are just steps from the beach and feature: 

• Ceiling fans and natural ventilation (no air conditioning)
• Airconditioning (available in bedroom reef units)
• Ensuite bathroom (except Eco Cabins – shared facilities)
• Private balconies or patios with ocean or garden views
• Mini fridge (in most room types)
• Tea and coffee making facilities
• Limited mobile reception and no in-room Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi available in selected areas)
• Solar-powered lighting and hot water

Food & Drinks

Dining at Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is relaxed and eco-conscious. The on-site beachfront dining room offers a full-board buffet-style menu that changes daily, featuring a variety of fresh, wholesome dishes. Meals are included in all stays, and the resort happily caters to specific dietary requirements with prior notice. Complimentary tea, coffee, and water are available, enhancing a simple yet satisfying island dining experience.

Dive Information

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is a premier dive destination on the southern Great Barrier Reef, offering over 20 boat-accessible dive sites with excellent visibility—often exceeding 20 m and sometimes reaching 40 m. Home to more than 1,200 marine species, the island is particularly renowned as the “Home of the Manta Ray,” with over 700 (or 1,000+) individuals identified in the surrounding waters, and regular sightings of turtles, reef sharks, dolphins, and seasonal humpback whales. Daily dives are escorted by experienced PADI instructors, with at least two guided dives per day (and optional night dives), tailored to divers of all levels and supported by a comprehensive PADI Dive Shop offering rental gear and courses from Discover Scuba to Advanced Open Water. Divers are expected to show good buoyancy control and present a valid certification card and logbook; a complimentary pool dive is offered for those who haven’t dived within the past year.

Lady Elliot Island offers a rich mix of wildlife encounters both above and below the water. Snorkelers and divers can see manta rays year-round, with peak aggregations in winter, alongside green, loggerhead, and hawksbill turtles that nest and hatch between November and April. The surrounding reef also hosts seasonal coral spawning and is frequented by migrating humpback whales from June to October. Above the water, the island transforms into a bird sanctuary between September and March, with thousands of seabirds nesting, while resident and visiting species can be seen year-round.

Dive Center Information

Lady Elliot Island features a full-service PADI Dive Centre on-site, where certified instructors accompany all dives, ensuring safety and personalized guidance. The Centre offers daily boat dives (morning and afternoon) with optional night dives, and group sizes are kept small—max 6 divers per guide—to enhance experience and minimize impact. You can learn to dive here too, with a complete range of PADI courses, from Discover Scuba to Advanced and specialty programs. Dive gear rental and servicing are available, and briefings ensure divers are informed about site conditions, marine life etiquette, and marine park regulations before each excursion.