Manta Rays on Lady Elliot Island - An Australian Geographic Citizen Science Expedition

As you step off your flight, you'll be greeted by one of our friendly activities team members for a quick island orientation. Get ready for an adventure-packed day in this stunning slice of paradise. After a warm welcome, settle into your comfortable accommodation and get ready to kick-start your island getaway. Your room will be available from 1:00 PM, but don't worry, there's plenty to do in the meantime! Savour a delicious buffet lunch served in our beachfront dining room. Enjoy a variety of fresh, locally sourced dishes while soaking in the serene coastal views. Grab your snorkelling gear and head out for an afternoon of underwater exploration at your own leisure. Dive into the crystal-clear waters surrounding Lady Elliot Island and discover the vibrant marine life thriving beneath the surface. As the day winds down, make your way to the iconic lighthouse to witness a mesmerizing sunset. Toast to the beauty of nature with a glass of fine wine or beverage of your choice as you watch the sky paint itself in hues of orange and pink. Indulge in a sumptuous buffet dinner served in our beachfront dining room. Relish a delectable spread of freshly prepared dishes while enjoying the soothing sounds of the ocean waves crashing nearby. As the night falls, explore the array of activities available on the island. Attend talks or games in our education centre to learn more about the fascinating ecosystem of Lady Elliot Island. Alternatively, take a leisurely stroll around the island and marvel at the celestial wonders of the night sky. After a day filled with excitement and exploration, retire to your accommodation for a restful night's sleep, ready to embark on more adventures tomorrow. Accommodation: Garden Unit at Lady Elliot Island

Start your day with the mesmerizing sight of the sunrise over the resort. Indulge in a hearty buffet breakfast served in our beachfront dining room. At ca. 9:30 AM you will be meeting with Dr. Asia Haines, the Project Manta leader, for an insightful session on manta ray conservation. Learn about Dr. Asia's research journey and her efforts to protect these majestic creatures. Gain a deeper understanding of manta ray behaviour, habitat selection, and the importance of conservation efforts. Asia will provide presentations on project Manta's research, and the importance and use of citizen science contributions to research. Afterwards, you will embark on a private boat charter (snorkel only) to search for manta rays in their natural habitat. You'll have the chance to collect photo IDs and contribute to ongoing research efforts. Keep an eye out for humpback whales during their migration, adding an extra layer of excitement to your expedition. Recharge with a delicious buffet lunch back at our beachfront dining room. In the early afternoon, meet with Dr. Asia in our Education Centre for a comprehensive session on manta ray identification and data collection. Gain insights into the history of animals sighted, learn how to identify individual mantas, and understand the significance of the data collected for conservation efforts. Take the rest of the afternoon to unwind and explore the wonders of Lady Elliot Island at your leisure. Whether you choose to snorkel among vibrant coral reefs or simply relax on the pristine beaches, immerse yourself in the natural beauty of this idyllic island paradise. Head to the iconic lighthouse and witness the breath-taking beauty of the sunset painting the sky in a symphony of colours. In the evening, enjoy another buffet dinner served in our beachfront dining room. After dinner, conclude your day with an educational talk by Dr. Asia Haines about Project Manta. Asia will provide a presentation about the biology and ecology of manta rays, the research and how citizen scientists can contribute. Project Manta is a nationwide research group based at the University of the Sunshine Coast. It was first established back in 2007 to investigate the ecology and biology of manta rays around the Australian coastline. As the day comes to a close, take some time to reflect on the incredible experiences and knowledge gained throughout the day. Relax and unwind in the comfort of your accommodation, ready to embark on more adventures tomorrow. Accommodation: Garden Unit at Lady Elliot Island

Rise early to enjoy the sunrise and to set the tone for another thrilling day on Lady Elliot Island. After breakfast overlooking the tranquil beach, gear up for a morning snorkel in the lagoon. It's high tide and therefore a great time to spot our epaulette sharks. Later on, embark on a private boat charter to seek out the majestic manta rays once more, collect photo ID's, with the chance of encountering migrating humpback whales along the way. Refuel with a delicious buffet lunch before delving into an enlightening session with Dr. Asia in our education centre, learn how to identify animals and provide history on the animals sighted. As the afternoon unfolds, join Dr. Asia for a captivating reef walk. Reef walking is a great way to explore the reef in the Lagoon at low tide with the assistance of reef walking poles and sea scopes. You can get up close and personal with the marine environment and discover a myriad of marine creatures including sea cucumbers, starfish, sea urchins, coral, clams, crabs and colourful fish of all shapes and sizes. A chance to talk about the reef as a whole, nesting birds, impacts of climate change etc.. Enjoy a sumptuous buffet dinner by the beach before engaging in a fascinating presentation on the islands "Leaf to Reef", a research project focused purely on Lady Elliot Island. We are investigating the relationship between the revegetation program on the island and the impacts on the surrounding reef, everything from the groundwater to the nesting birds to coral health. You can contribute to our ongoing vertebrate species list on the island, documenting the biodiversity around Lady Elliot Island. Leaf to Reef focus - one of the aims of the Leaf to Reef project is to assess the biodiversity found in and around the waters of Lady Elliot Island and examine how connected these waters are to other parts of the GBR and beyond. Leaving you inspired as you retire for a restful night's sleep, ready to embark on new adventures tomorrow. Accommodation: Garden Unit at Lady Elliot Island

Wake up to the breath-taking hues of sunrise painting the horizon, signalling the start of another adventure-filled day on Lady Elliot Island. Dive into the crystal-clear waters for a morning snorkel in the vibrant lagoon, participating in the Eye on the Reef program to contribute to marine conservation. After a sumptuous buffet breakfast immerse yourself in further Manta & Reef project work, engaging in hands-on citizen science to protect our precious ecosystems. After lunch, bid farewell to the insightful teachings of Dr. Asia and enjoy some time at your own leisure. After dinner and a last sunset on the island, prepare to be enchanted by the island's nocturnal wonders during a Night Explorer Tour. On this tour, we will discover Lady Elliot by night; look for and learn about some of the nocturnal animals such as ghost crabs, land hermit crabs, frogs and nesting or roosting sea birds. Stargazing is beautiful at Lady Elliot and this tour finishes off on the airstrip where our guide will delight you with fascinating information about the stars and constellations you can see. If you are lucky, you might even be able to spot some galaxies and nebula as well! Accommodation: Garden Unit at Lady Elliot Island

After a last buffet breakfast served in our beach dining room it's time to check out of your room. Your bags will be collected and it's time to say good bye. Have a safe trip home and we hope you learned a lot and enjoyed your time! Thank you for your active participation in the "Project Manta" and "Leaf to Reef" research programs.