Second Reef is a shallow, sheltered dive and snorkel site off the western side of Lady Elliot Island at the southernmost tip of the Great Barrier Reef. With depths between 5–12 metres, this site boasts lush gardens of branching corals and swaying anemones. Snorkelers drift above clouds of blue-green chromis and yellowfin goatfish while green, loggerhead, and hawksbill turtles glide by. The calm, protected waters and excellent visibility (often 20m+) make it one of the most accessible and rewarding sites around Lady Elliot Island — a true sanctuary for reef life.
Second Reef
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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
Currents can pick up on the western side of the island depending on the tide. Snorkel with a guide and follow briefings.
Low risk: Sharp coral
Sharp coral bommies and branching corals are present at shallow depths. Avoid touching the reef.
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Getting in
Boat
Entry
Second Reef is accessed via boat from Lady Elliot Island, located at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. Boat rides to this site take approximately 10 minutes. Lady Elliot Island is accessible by scenic flight from Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, or Brisbane.
Parking & facilities
Parking is available at Bundaberg Airport (for fly-in guests) or at the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort on the island itself.
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Access to Second Reef is included in Lady Elliot Island resort dive/snorkel packages. No separate fee for the reef site itself.
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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