How to Plan an Underwater Photography Trip to Lady Elliot Island
Australia’s world-renowned Great Barrier Reef is an incredible destination to visit for underwater photography.
However, due to its immense size stretching up to 2,300 kilometres, planning a trip and deciding exactly where to go can be difficult.
If your goal is to capture beautiful photos and videos of large marine life like sea turtles, manta rays, and so much more, look no further than Lady Elliot Island.
Located in the far south, not only is Lady Elliot Island one of the best destinations on the Great Barrier Reef, but it is arguably one of the best in Australia.
In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know before planning an underwater photography-focused trip to the island!
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Where is Lady Elliot Island?
Lady Elliot Island is located in the most southern part of the Great Barrier Reef, approximately 80 kilometres off the coast of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia.
The island itself is, in fact, a coral cay, meaning it’s a sandy island that’s built up upon a reef over time. Located in the heart of a Marine Park Green Zone, Lady Elliot is protected and, as a result, sees an abundance of exciting marine species daily.
Getting to Lady Elliot Island
Accessing Lady Elliot Island requires a short plane ride which can be taken from four different locations in Queensland.
These include Bundaberg (30 minutes), Hervey Bay (40 minutes), Brisbane (90 minutes), or the Gold Coast (120 minutes), with all flights arranged at the time of booking with Lady Elliot Eco Resort.
Remember to bring a camera on your flight and do your best to score a window seat as the views are incredible and come with the chance of seeing humpback whales between the months of June and November!
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Staying on Lady Elliot Island
Lady Elliot Eco Resort comprises the entire island and is therefore the only accommodation available. Fortunately, it is very well run with friendly staff, all of whom are passionate about caring for and protecting the reef and its inhabitants.
The resort offers a range of different rooms at various prices, from Eco Cabins with shared facilities to ocean-front rooms or glamping tents equipped with ensuites.
Breakfast and dinner are typically included in a package rate and served buffet style, while lunch can be purchased separately from the restaurant/bar.
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When to visit
Before planning a trip to Lady Elliot, you should be aware of the many natural events or seasons that take place across the year.
While manta rays are commonly seen year-round, May to September sees them in their highest numbers.
If seeing humpback whales is on your list, visiting between June and November will provide the best chances.
Turtle nesting season takes place between November and February, while turtle hatching season occurs between February and April.
Dive conditions
In addition to the amazing wildlife, Lady Elliot Island is also renowned for its clear, blue water that is typical across all months of the year. Visibility is on average 20 to 25 meters, only reducing during periods of strong winds and large swells.
Regarding water temperature, November to March sits around 26 degrees Celsius on average but can decrease to as low as 19 degrees Celsius during the winter months of July and August.
It’s worth noting that while November to April experiences warmer water, this period also coincides with the east coast’s cyclone season, increasing the chances of experiencing adverse weather.
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Shooting in shallow water
One of the best things about underwater photography at Lady Elliot Island is that most of the action takes place in shallow water between one and about twelve meters deep.
This means you will likely have an abundance of natural light to use to either enhance color and details in your subjects or to drastically improve compositions with striking sun rays.
Remember to stay aware of the direction of the light at all times and always use it to your advantage.
Another benefit of shallow-water photography is the more favorable settings you will likely be able to use.
With more light available close to the surface, you will find you can work with faster shutter speeds, smaller apertures, or lower ISOs compared to when shooting 15-20 meters deep.
So when you find yourself photographing marine life in shallow water, remember to maximize your camera settings and see what’s possible while maintaining exposure.
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What equipment to bring?
While scuba divers may find the occasional macro subject while exploring the reef, Lady Elliot Island is primarily a big animal destination, and therefore it’s recommended to pack your best wide-angle lens.
Lenses such as the Nikon or Canon 8-15mm fisheye or a 10-20mm or 16-35mm would all be very suitable to ensure you bring home beautiful images.
If you are planning to visit the island as a snorkeler or freediver, it’s highly recommended to bring a quality set of fins capable of easily propelling you through the water.
As mentioned above, currents can sometimes be strong, and you will be covering large distances each day looking for marine life; a good set of freediving fins will prove invaluable and keep you comfortable.
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Diving Lady Elliot Island
There are two sides of Lady Elliot Island that are possible to explore: the East Side (The Lagoon) and the West Side. Regardless of which side you’re diving on, the best sites can be accessed with only a mask, snorkel, and fins.
If, however, you prefer to scuba dive or want to minimize the amount of swimming required, the resort has a fully accredited PADI dive shop offering multiple dive or snorkel trips per day.
Both sides of the island are absolutely worth experiencing, and each offers amazing photographic opportunities.
Here are some of the best sites to incorporate into your trip.
Top tip: To best find any of the sites listed below, it’s recommended to consult the map upon arriving on the island and to talk with staff who will be more than happy to point you in the right direction.
The Lagoon
On the east side of the island is an enormous lagoon that is only accessible two hours either side of high tide due to its very shallow depths (one meter on average).
The lagoon is a great spot not only for beginner snorkelers but also for photographers due to the many different species possible to see.
A flag is positioned offshore that indicates a large cleaning station that routinely sees over ten green turtles congregating while small tropical fish rid them of parasites or debris.
Don’t forget to explore further out and around the lagoon as many different species can be found, including juvenile blacktip reef sharks, lemon sharks, and also octopus.
The Lagoon is heavily protected by the outer reef, making conditions consistently excellent even during periods of strong winds and large swells.
The calm environment and abundance of willing subjects make this a great location to perfect your compositions and perhaps consider trying different, more creative techniques.
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The West Side
The west side of the island is where the magic really happens. This is where you will find larger species of sea turtle, a number of different types of sharks, and, of course, manta rays, which the island is most known for.
If you spend enough time in the water, you just might enjoy rarer encounters with bottlenose dolphins, an ornate eagle ray, or even humpback whales during the winter months.
As impressive as the West Side can be, your success in finding exciting subjects heavily depends on the amount of time you are willing to spend in the water. I have been diving Lady Elliot Island regularly for a number of years now, and every single time I find something unique and special.
If you can spend at least five hours per day exploring the West Side, your chances of encounters and amazing photo opportunities will be very good.
The conditions are often great; however, rough swells and strong currents are possible, so be sure to always dive within your own limitations.
The depth here is also much deeper, averaging between five and 15 meters, so be sure to dive safely with a buddy at all times or book a trip with the dive shop.
When snorkeling on the west side of the island, exciting species can and do show up just about anywhere; however, it’s worth highlighting a few specific sites that are known for attracting particular animals.
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1. Lighthouse Bommie
This is arguably the most popular site at Lady Elliot Island, primarily because it is the best spot to find manta rays. The coral bommie is situated about 100 meters offshore the southern end of the island and sits in approximately 14 meters of water and rises up to about 12 meters.
In addition to manta rays, Lighthouse Bommie frequently sees many sea turtles, rays, and other animals.
If you’re really lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of a tiger shark or great hammerhead or possibly meet a family of bottlenose dolphins. Many photographers will spend 90% of their time in the water exploring this site alone because it really is just that good!
2. Second Reef
Second Reef is located much closer to shore and is very easy to access. A snorkel line is set up that runs the length of the reef to help in the presence of a strong current.
At a depth of just five to eight meters, Second Reef is fantastic for photography, particularly around sunrise or sunset as the lighting can be spectacular.
Expect to find several different green, hawksbill, and loggerhead turtles either resting, feeding, or sometimes attending the many cleaning stations.
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5. Coral Gardens
Towards the northern end of the west side of the island is the Coral Gardens. Similar to Second Reef, Coral Gardens is on average between five and ten meters deep and is home to many green turtles.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about this area is the incredible coral formations; many of which can be used to create beautiful compositions and incorporate interesting foregrounds and backgrounds in your wider images.
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6. The Shark Pool
The Shark Pool is one of the least commonly dived sites on the island due to the fact conditions need to be near perfect. This site is located on the far north of the western side and sits in very shallow water of just three to five meters.
As the name suggests, the Shark Pool can see a number of blacktip and whitetip reef sharks swimming circles around one another in a small area.
The Shark Pool can be difficult to find, so it’s best to talk to the dive shop staff first or consider booking a boat tour and hope the weather allows you to visit!
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In conclusion
Lady Elliot Island truly is one of the best places to explore on the Great Barrier Reef, particularly if you have a passion for big animals.
What really separates it from other locations is the fact that the best sites are accessible by simply snorkeling off the beach; this means photographers can shoot all day without crowding or worrying about schedules.
If you’re planning a trip to Lady Elliot Island, my best tip is a simple one: spend as much time as you possibly can in the water and the island will reward you!
