Snorkeling around and under Lizard Island

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Not usually a coral enthusiast, I usually prefer meeting large fish when I‘m snorkeling, I have to say that I was overwhelmed by the colourful, and hugely varied, array of coral to be found around Lizard Island on it’s fringed reef lagoon and outer reefs. This is truly the location that spawned the phrase coral garden, that’s exactly what it looks like, coral of all shapes and sizes both hard and soft, covering every surface save the sandy bottom, you can also see all the fish from Finding Nemo. Here you can snorkel almost straight off the beach and most of the islands coast line is beaches. Further out there is still the possibility of seeing some larger fish, wrasse and red bass as well as the potato cod who are favourites with visiting divers. And of seeing a white tip reef shark or an eel or manta ray. One of the main attractions of Lizard Island is the Giant Clam Garden who’s impressively healthy clams are supposedly 150 years old. For divers the main attraction will be Cod Hole.

There are good spots all around the Great Barrier Reef, but for a good variety of marine life, large and small fish and corals Lizard Island is probably one of the best spots. The resort on the island is exclusive but you can camp in the National Park, just remember to bring your own supplies, this isn't somewhere you can pop out to the shops. It’s almost too obvious to include, but there’s only a few handfuls of people who can stay in the resort so the numbers are kept to a reasonable roar. Good for beginners, my advice would be to get away from the crowds and the guides and do some exploring. You can’t really go wrong in the water here.

5 / 5 Review by expert member Daniella May

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