Scuba. Snorkel. Education. Turtles. Learn. Reef Sharks. Fun. Photography. Research. Octopus. Manta Rays. Fish. Whales. Coral Cay.
Dates:
Trip 1 (3 nights/4 days): Fri 29 May – Mon 1 June 2026
Trip 2 (5 nights/ 6 days): Fri 29 May – Wed 3 June 2026
Trip Overview:
These trips will focus on diving with the majestic manta rays, turtles, and hopefully, we will see some whales. May and June are peak manta ray and humpback whale season; the marine life is in abundance, which helps with the cooler water temperatures this time of the year. The pristine and easily accessible lagoon offers lots of turtle action on the high tide – you can also see reef sharks, octopus, and lots of fish life. The Coral Cay has it all!
Price Includes:
- 5 dives or 5 snorkels (includes tanks, weights, snorkel, mask, fins) – 5-night package (3-night package differs)
- 2 guided snorkel boat safaris
- 1 glass-bottom boat tour (plus snorkeling)
- ALL meals – buffet breakfast, lunch & dinner (good variety)
- Return scenic flights ex Hervey Bay (incl. 15kg luggage+2kg carry on)
- Accommodation of your choice (either 5 nights or 3 nights)
- Guided Reef & Nature Walks/Certified dive guides
- Presentation by Amanda-Marine Biologist
- Perfect for non-divers to join
Price does not include:
- Traveling to/from Hervey Bay (QLD, Aust)
- Beverages
- Additional Luggage – $16 per kg return (up to 10kg available)
- Additional Scuba Diving Gear
- International Flights
- Travel Insurance-Dive Assure / DAN Dive Insurance
What To Bring
- Copy of your SCUBA diving card
- Dive gear and camera gear
- Torch for walking around at night
- Reef shoes (they have some to borrow if you don’t want to bring your own)
- Casual clothes
- Swimmers/sarong
Trip 1 (3 nights/4 days): Wed 3 – Sat 6 June 2026
Trip 2 (5 nights/ 6 days): Fri 29 May – Wed 3 June 2026
Package Cost:
Trip 1: 3 nights
Scuba Diving
$2800 pp. AUD Eco-Cabin – twin/triple share package with shared bathrooms
$3170 pp. AUD Garden Room – double/twin share package with en suite
$3300 pp. AUD Reef Room – double/twin share package with en suite & beachfront.
Diver Single Supplement – Solo
$3560 pp. AUD Eco-Cabin – solo/single package with shared bathrooms
$3700 pp. AUD Garden Room – solo/single package with en suite
$3900 pp. AUD Reef Room – solo/single package with en suite & beachfront
Snorkeling
$2350 pp. AUD Eco-Cabin – twin/triple share package with shared bathrooms
$3700 pp. AUD Garden Room – double/twin share package with en-suite.
Trip 2: 5 nights
Scuba Diving
$3350 pp. AUD Eco-Cabin – twin/triple share package with shared bathrooms
$3900 pp. AUD Garden Room – double/twin share package with en suite
$4200 pp. AUD Reef Room – double/twin share package with en suite & beachfront.
Diver Single Supplement – Solo
$3800 pp. AUD Eco-Cabin – solo/single package with shared bathrooms
$4700 pp. AUD Garden Room – solo/single package with en suite
$5200 pp. AUD Reef Room – solo/single package with en suite & beachfront
Snorkeling
$2895 pp. AUD Eco-Cabin – twin/triple share package with shared bathrooms
$3500 pp. AUD Garden Room – double/twin share package with en-suite.
Note: All costs are in Australian Dollars (AUD) for this trip. 10% off accommodation and flights for return guests!
What’s Unique About Our Trip
- Presentations on marine wildlife
- Travel and explore with a marine biologist and dive instructor
- In-field turtle education and identification
- Photography and editing advice provided.
- Group size is limited to approx. 10 pax for personal service.
How To Get There
This trip departs from Hervey Bay Airport. Hervey Bay is approximately a 2.5-hour drive from the Sunshine Coast or a 3.5-hour drive from Brisbane. It’s a 40-minute scenic flight from Hervey Bay to Lady Elliot Island.
Day of Departure:
Meet at 10:00 am / Depart at 10:30 am / Arrive at Lady Elliot Island at 11:10 am
Day of Return:
Depart from Lady Elliot Island at 11:30 am / Arrive at Hervey Bay at 12:10 pm
Payment
To secure your place on this trip please pay a $500 AUD deposit. You will be sent an invoice from the booking platform and an email to follow with the details and FAQs about the trip. If you would like to ask any questions or check on available spaces to secure your spot, email: amanda@amandadelaforce.com
About Lady Elliot Island
- Lady Elliot Island is a coral cay located at the southern tip of the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef.
Situated within a highly protected ‘Green Zone’ the coral cay is a sanctuary for over 1,200 species of marine life and is known for its abundance of manta rays, turtles, amazing array of spectacular marine life and unspoilt coral reef. - Snorkeling and Diving is a great way to get up close and personal with the amazing marine life and explore the wonders of the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
- Snorkeling on the reef surrounding Lady Elliot island is easily accessible straight off the beaches or from a dive boat.
CONSERVATION: Doing our bit to help
$20 of each booking goes towards Ocean Earth Foundation Ghostnets Australia program!!
Your donation will support Ocean Earth Foundation Ghostnets Australia program, which is working to stop abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (also known as ghostnets) coming to Australia and reduce the impact on marine turtles and other protected species.
The Ocean Earth Foundation, established in 2008, is a registered charity working to create a future where people and nature thrive. They focus on Australia, the Pacific and Coral Triangle to unlock new and innovative thinking and collaborations, foster tomorrow’s change makers, and enable community-led action on the ground. Their mission is being delivered through five strategic programs, one of which is GhostNets Australia (GNA).
Anissa Lawrence is the Managing Director and founder of the Ocean Earth Foundation, and works globally with a focus on Australia, the Pacific, and the Coral Triangle to achieve conservation impact at scale. Anissa will be presenting during our trip on this program. You can chat to her throughout the trip!
The Ocean Earth Foundation has been involved in GNA since its creation and took over the long running, award winning program in 2016. Their focus is on northern Australia as well as other hotspot areas in Australia, the Coral Triangle and Pacific. Globally, ghostgear is a major sea-based source of marine debris. Nets are the most harmful type of marine debris, entangling and killing marine wildlife and can persist for decades. In Australia, ghostgear has been a major issue for many years, particularly in northern Australia and the Gulf of Carpentaria, with over 15,000 nets reported since 2004.
Given the nature of ghostgear to continue fishing, they can entangle large, long-lived and slowly reproducing threatened, endangered and protected species like marine turtles, marine mammals, sharks and rays. The Ocean Earth Foundation has recently commenced working with our partners to develop and implement a national plan of action to address litter and ghostgear from recreational fishing and has several grant funded projects working with recreational fishers. You can follow their work on Instagram: Oceanearthfoundation
Bookings, Payment, Cancellation Policy and Force Majeure in relation to the Tour
TERMS & CONDITIONS
These Terms & Conditions apply to all bookings made with Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd (ABN 26 661 237 734), trading as OceanLife Scuba Expeditions (“OceanLife Scuba Expeditions”, “we”, “us” or “our”).
1. Insurance
- OceanLife Scuba Expeditions highly recommends that all guests purchase comprehensive personal travel and dive insurance as soon as possible after confirming their travel plans. Your insurance policy should provide adequate cover for, at a minimum, trip cancellation, medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, scuba diving activities, missed or delayed flights, baggage loss or delay, travel interruptions and personal liability. We recommend Dive Assure or DAN for dive insurance. Dive Assure offers both annual and short-term (per trip) Dive and Travel Insurance policies. You can purchase a policy here – https://app.diveassure.com/#/registration/main/process/0/int/0/18669/en-intl
- Evidence of adequate travel and dive insurance must be provided prior to departure.
- All diving, snorkelling and in-water activities are conducted by our appointed in-country operator(s), including liveaboard vessel operators and local dive centres, who maintain responsibility for their own operational procedures, safety standards and applicable insurance requirements. While participating in diving, snorkelling or swimming activities, you are required to comply with all instructions given by the Captain, Dive Instructor, Divemaster or other authorised crew members.
2. Bookings and Payments
- Bookings made more than 100 days before the commencement of the trip require a non-refundable deposit of AUD $500 per passenger.
- All deposits are non-refundable.
- Bookings made within 100 days of the commencement of the trip require payment in full to secure the booking.
- Final payment is due no later than 100 days before the commencement of the trip. A final payment reminder will be sent prior to the due date.
- Each guest is required to complete a Dive Trip Questionnaire (which may include a Dive Medical Assessment where applicable) before receiving final trip confirmation. The completed questionnaire must be returned to OceanLife Scuba Expeditions before final payment is made.
- Guests are required to disclose all relevant medical conditions honestly and completely. Failure to disclose relevant medical information, or providing false or misleading information, may result in OceanLife Scuba Expeditions refusing participation where the condition may affect the safety of the guest, other participants or the safe operation of the expedition.
- Guests are responsible for ensuring they hold valid passports, visas, permits, vaccinations and any other documentation required for entry into the destination country or countries. OceanLife Scuba Expeditions accepts no responsibility for denied boarding, refused entry or additional costs resulting from incomplete, expired or invalid travel documentation.
3. Amendment and Cancellation Policy
- All deposits are non-refundable.
- The total trip cost becomes 100% non-refundable within 100 days of the scheduled departure date. This applies to deposits and all subsequent payments, except where otherwise required by law.
- If you cancel your booking 100 days or more before departure, and your place can be resold, a trip credit equal to your remaining balance (less a USD $300 administration fee) will be issued. The credit must be used on another OceanLife Scuba Expeditions trip departing within two (2) years of the cancellation date.
- If you cancel your booking within 99 days of departure, no refund or trip credit will be issued.
- If a guest misses the commencement of the expedition or any part of the itinerary due to delayed or cancelled flights, missed connections, immigration delays, baggage delays, weather events or other travel disruptions, no refund, credit or alternative arrangements will be provided by OceanLife Scuba Expeditions. Any eligible costs should be claimed through the guest’s travel insurance policy, where covered.
- OceanLife Scuba Expeditions reserves the right to amend itineraries, accommodation, vessels, dive sites, schedules, guides or expedition leaders where reasonably necessary due to weather, sea conditions, safety considerations, wildlife activity, mechanical issues, operational requirements, government directives or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control. Such changes do not constitute grounds for compensation or refund.
4. Force Majeure
- OceanLife Scuba Expeditions shall not be liable for any delay, alteration, cancellation or failure to deliver a trip where such circumstances are caused by events beyond our reasonable control.
- A Force Majeure Event includes, but is not limited to, acts of God, war, terrorism, fire, flood, severe weather, natural disasters, epidemics or pandemics, industrial disputes, strikes, civil unrest, acts of government or regulatory authorities, the inability to obtain licences or permits, delays caused by subcontractors or suppliers, telecommunications failures, material shortages or any other event beyond our reasonable control.
5. Guest Responsibilities
- Guests participating in scuba diving must hold the minimum certification required for the expedition and provide proof of certification if requested.
- Guests agree to dive within the limits of their certification, experience and current medical fitness, and to follow all instructions provided by dive professionals, vessel crew and expedition staff.
- Guests are responsible for arriving at the designated departure location at the required time. OceanLife Scuba Expeditions is not responsible for missed departures resulting from delayed or cancelled flights, missed connections, immigration delays, baggage delays, weather events or other travel disruptions beyond our reasonable control. Any costs, losses or expenses incurred as a result of these disruptions are the responsibility of the guest and should be claimed through the guest’s travel insurance policy, where covered.
- Guests are responsible for the care and security of their own dive equipment, camera equipment, luggage and personal belongings throughout the expedition.
- Wildlife sightings are natural events and cannot be guaranteed. OceanLife Scuba Expeditions makes no representation or warranty that any particular marine species, wildlife encounter or photographic opportunity will occur during an expedition.
- OceanLife Scuba Expeditions reserves the right to refuse participation or remove any guest from an expedition, without refund, where their behaviour is considered unsafe, abusive, disruptive, illegal, intoxicated, or likely to place themselves, other guests, crew members or the expedition at risk.
6. Liability and Obligations
- OceanLife Scuba Expeditions acts as an expedition organiser and booking agent for accommodation providers, liveaboards, dive operators, transport providers and other third-party suppliers.
- We choose our in-country dive operators carefully. We check that they hold the correct permits, licences, vessel registrations and insurance before we work with them. Once you’re on the water, they’re responsible for running the trip safely under their own procedures, not ours.
- To the maximum extent permitted by law, OceanLife Scuba Expeditions accepts no responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, delay or expense arising from the acts, omissions or default of any third-party supplier involved in delivering any component of the expedition.
- Participation in scuba diving, snorkelling and other adventure activities involves inherent risks which may result in serious injury, permanent disability or death. These risks include, but are not limited to, decompression sickness, arterial gas embolism, hyperbaric injuries requiring recompression treatment, equipment failure, adverse weather, strong currents, remote locations where emergency medical assistance may be delayed, and encounters with wild marine life that may result in stings, bites or other injuries.
- Guests acknowledge these inherent risks and voluntarily participate in these activities at their own risk. Participants are responsible for ensuring they are medically fit to participate, exercising reasonable care, following all safety instructions and complying with directions provided by the vessel crew, dive professionals and expedition leaders.
- To the maximum extent permitted by law, OceanLife Scuba Expeditions shall not be liable for any personal injury, illness or death suffered directly or indirectly as a result of participation in the expedition or associated activities. We are also not liable for any consequential loss, including loss of income, profits, enjoyment or opportunity, nor for the loss, theft or damage of personal belongings before, during or after the expedition.
- Nothing in these Terms & Conditions excludes, restricts or modifies any rights or remedies that cannot lawfully be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law or any other applicable legislation.
7. Privacy & Data Collection Notice
OceanLife Scuba Expeditions collects personal information, including contact details, payment information and, where relevant to trip participation, health and medical information, in order to process bookings, arrange travel and diving activities, and communicate with guests. Health information collected through our Dive Trip Questionnaire is used solely to assess fitness to dive and may be shared with our appointed in-country dive operators for safety purposes. We do not sell personal information to third parties. By using this website or booking a trip, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described here.
8. Photography
During the expedition, OceanLife Scuba Expeditions and its representatives may capture photographs and video footage for promotional, educational and marketing purposes. Unless you notify us in writing before departure, you consent to the use of images or video in which you may appear on our website, social media channels, printed publications and other promotional material without compensation.
9. Governing Law
These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of Queensland, Australia. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms & Conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Queensland, Australia.
By placing a booking with Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd (ABN 26 661 237 734), trading as OceanLife Scuba Expeditions, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and accepted these Terms & Conditions and the Cancellation Policy.