The Blowhole is a dramatic underwater cave off the eastern side of Lady Elliot Island, the southernmost coral cay of the Great Barrier Reef. This L-shaped cavern, large enough to drive a bus through, opens at around 14 metres depth and is adorned with colourful corals, sponges, and marine life clinging to the ceiling. Snorkellers and divers drift through the cave entrance and emerge over a deep ledge into a wall dive teeming with reef fish, green turtles, manta rays, and the occasional ornate eagle ray. Crystal-clear visibility, thriving coral gardens, and the thrill of swimming through a natural oceanic blowhole make this one of the most iconic spots in the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
The Blowhole
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Wave Height 0.1 mSwell Period 6.2 sWind Speed 1.1 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase flood
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Overhead cave environment
The Blowhole is an L-shaped cave with overhead environment. Snorkellers must be comfortable with entering a confined space and ascending through the opening. Not suitable for novice snorkellers.
Moderate risk: Tidal currents
Strong currents can develop around the eastern side of Lady Elliot Island, particularly during tidal changes, affecting entry and exit at the cave mouth.
Low risk: Swell and wind exposure
The site is on the exposed eastern side of the island, subject to prevailing south-easterly winds and ocean swells which can create challenging conditions.
Low risk: Depth (14m at cave entrance)
Depth of 14 metres at the cave entrance requires good buoyancy control and is best suited to snorkellers with advanced skills or done as a guided dive.
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Getting in
Snorkel tour
Entry
The Blowhole is located off the eastern side of Lady Elliot Island, at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. Access is via scenic flight from Bundaberg (approx. 30 min) or from Hervey Bay to Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort. The site is reached by guided snorkel tour or dive boat from the island resort.
Parking & facilities
No parking on the island. Day-trippers depart from Bundaberg Airport where long-term parking is available.
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Access via Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort day trip or accommodation package. Day trips from Bundaberg include return scenic flight, snorkel equipment, and guided tour. Prices vary by season.
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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