Forty Five is a solitary bommie mooring site positioned at a 45-degree angle southwest of the iconic Lighthouse Bommies on Lady Elliot Island, the southernmost coral cay of the Great Barrier Reef. This single coral outcrop rising from the sandy seafloor is a renowned cleaning station where graceful manta rays glide in to be cleaned by smaller fish. The site offers crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral formations, and a chance to swim alongside sea turtles, reef sharks, and clouds of tropical fish. As a boat-only mooring, it provides a quieter, less-crowded alternative to the main Lighthouse Bommie area, with excellent visibility and regular encounters with pelagic visitors.
Forty Five
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Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.1 mSwell Period 6.2 sWind Speed 1.1 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Low risk: Tidal currents
Strong currents can sweep through the bommie area, especially during tidal changes. Requires good swimming ability and confidence in open water.
Low risk: Boat traffic
Boat traffic accessing the mooring site; snorkelers must be aware of vessel movements around the buoy.
Low risk: Marine stingers
Marine stingers (box jellyfish and Irukandji) are present in the southern Great Barrier Reef waters during the warmer months.
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Getting in
Boat
Entry
Lady Elliot Island is the southernmost coral cay of the Great Barrier Reef, accessible by scenic flight from Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, or Brisbane, or by boat charter. Forty Five is a boat-only mooring site southwest of the island, reached via the resort's scheduled snorkel/dive boat trips.
Parking & facilities
No direct parking — access is via the island resort. For day visitors, park at Hervey Bay or Bundaberg airport lots before flying to the island.
toiletsdrinking_watershowerspicnic_tables
Access via Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort day-trip packages or overnight stays. Snorkel/dive boat trips incur an additional fee (approx. $50-80 AUD per person).
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports