Ningaloo Reef

Welcome to an aquatic playground unlike anywhere else in the world …

World-heritage listed Ningaloo Marine Park, the world’s largest fringing reef, and home to an abundance of marine life, is also the annual meeting place of the world’s biggest fish, whale sharks.

Ningaloo Reef offers snorkel and dive enthusiasts, adventure seekers, and every day people from all walks of life the ‘bucket list’ opportunity of a lifetime: a chance to swim alongside whale sharks, and get up close and personal with these gentle giants of the deep.

But while whale shark swims are naturally one of the key attractions of Ningaloo Reef, and one of our most popular Exmouth snorkelling tours, there are many other inhabitants of the reef we’d like you to meet …

A Guide to Ningaloo Reef

Or, as we like to call it, our office! Situated on the World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Coast that spans the north west coastline of Western Australia, Exmouth and her surrounding bays are known around the world as the eco-adventure capital of Australia.

Ningaloo Reef is an intricate coral reef system that fringes the North West Cape and, in some areas, lies mere meters from the beach. At 260kms, it is one of the world’s largest fringing reefs, and home to over 450 different species of marine life, and 250 different species of coral.

With pristine waters, teeming with life, Ningaloo Reef has cemented her reputation as one of the world’s most exciting and abundant locations to swim, dive, fish or snorkel.

Ningaloo Reef: Meet the locals

An underwater paradise awaits everyone who books an Exmouth Dive and Whalesharks experience. From the moment you leave the boat, you’re transported into a vibrant, hidden world, home to tropical fish, colourful coral, and exotic marine life of every species.

We’ve been taking visitors to Ningaloo Reef for over twenty-five years, and guarantee that on the Coral Coast, every day is a surprise! While you never know what you’re going to come across, here’s just a small selection of the Ningaloo Reef locals you’re sure to catch a glimpse of:

Whale Sharks, Humpback Whales, Manta Rays, Green Turtles, Giant Cod & Coral Trout, Several species of Sting Ray, Loggerhead Turtles, Dolphins, Hawksbill Turtles, Leopard Sharks and other species, Tropical fish of every description, Soft & Hard Coral, Dugongs, Mackerel & Tuna, Leatherback Turtles, Crabs, crustaceans, and mollusks.

Discover Ningaloo Reef

Ningaloo Reef is your ‘must see’ destination for snorkel and dive tour memories you’ll treasure forever. The unforgettable experience of swimming with whale sharks truly is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

At Exmouth Dive and Whale Sharks Ningaloo, we’ve tailored a range of tours designed specifically to capture the majesty of the reef and a personalised ‘meet and greet’ with the big fish and mammals who live, feed, and breed in her waters. From humpback whale swims, to Exmouth snorkeling experiences, we’re as committed to the care and sustainability of Ningaloo Reef as we are to providing you with a remarkable marine encounter.

With whale sharks visiting annually between March to August, humpback whales frolicking from June to November, manta rays active between April and November, and turtle season lasting through summer and beyond, we recommend March through to the end of October as the optimal time to explore the beauty and diversity of Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, and the Coral Coast.

The North West Cape is surrounded by the Ningaloo Reef which is one of the world’s largest fringing reefs. This intricate reef system stretches over 260 km and, at some points, is only metres from the beach. The Ningaloo Reef is home to a myriad of marine life, including one of the rarest, and the largest fish in the world – the Whale Shark. These leviathans, of up to 18 metres in length, are regular visitors to the Ningaloo Reef from March to June, when the plankton rich waters draw them close to the reef in search of food.

• Whale Sharks are only one of the many seasonal visitors to the Ningaloo Reef.
• Humpback Whales are in the area from June until November.
• Manta Rays can be seen along the reef near Exmouth from May to November, feeding on the plankton rich water. They are around all year in Coral Bay.
• As summer arrives, so do the Green, Loggerhead and Hawksbill turtles to begin their nesting season after their mating season in October to November.

Add the bio-diversity of 250 species of corals and over 450 different species of fish to the previously mentioned attractions and it makes Exmouth an impressive diving destination all year round.

View our Ningaloo Reef tours