Whales, dolphins, dugongs, manta rays, huge cod or sharks can be seen in
abundance at the 260-kilometre-long Ningaloo Reef. The reef offers world
class diving through to family snorkelling in sheltered lagoons crammed
with coral gardens.
Ningaloo is the largest fringing coral reef in
Australia. It is the only large reef in the world found so close to a
continental land mass; about 100 metres offshore at its nearest point and
less than seven kilometres at its furthest. The park covers more than 4000
square kilometres and was declared in 1987.
Clownfish bathing in anemone tentacles, attractive lionfish or
predatory moray eels are just some of hundreds of species of colourful
tropical fish that can be seen. The coral reef fish of Ningaloo are among
the most colourful and beautifully patterned of all living creatures. Even
the novice snorkeller can swim in the shallows and witness an amazing
variety of fish life. They live in and around more than 180 species of
coral, ranging from the cabbage corals, brain corals, lavender corals,
delicate colourful branching corals, which form gardens in the shallow
lagoons.
From mid-March to mid-May each year visitors from all around the world
converge on Ningaloo for the experience of a lifetime - diving with the
awesome whale shark, the world's biggest species of fish. Ningaloo Reef is
the only easily accessible place in the world where these giants appear in
large numbers at predictable times of the year. Whale sharks reach more
than 12 metres long and weigh more than eleven tonnes. You do not even
have to be a scuba diver to swim with these massive animals, as they swim
close to the surface.
Exmouth or Coral Bay are also perfect places to view the mass coral
spawning, a three day event that begins a week or so after the full moon
during March and April. Each night, many species of coral suddenly release
millions of bright pink egg and sperm bundles which float to the surface
of the water, as though engaging in a spectacular underwater dance.
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Where is it? Ningaloo Marine Park is about 1200 kilometres north of Perth. The park
stretches for some 260 kilometres, from Bundegi Reef in Exmouth Gulf
around North-West Cape to Amherst Point, south of Coral Bay. The park
extends about 10 nautical miles out to sea.
Travelling time:
Visitors planning to drive from Perth should allow two days. Large numbers
of kangaroos after sunset make driving hazardous.
Access:
Commercial aircraft fly to Learmonth Airport, which is 37 kilometres south
of Exmouth and coaches operate to both Exmouth and Coral Bay. Access along
the shore of the park is by four-wheel-drive in some areas.
Facilities:
The park lies offshore from the resort towns of Exmouth and Coral Bay,
which are fully serviced. Contact Exmouth Tourist Bureau (099) 49 1176 for
bookings and additional information. Fishing tackle, diving instruction
and compressed air are available from both towns and diving gear is
available for hire. Milyering Visitor Centre is situated in Cape Range
National Park, just adjacent to the marine park. There are concrete boat
ramps at Bundegi (just north of Exmouth), Tantabiddi Creek and Coral Bay.
Small vessels can be launched from the beach at several other locations.
Best Season: If you want to see whale sharks you need to visit between
mid-March to early June. The best time for SCUBA diving is between April
and November, when temperatures range from the low 20s to the low 30s
(ºC). High temperatures (often reaching 40ºC), southerly
winds and sometimes cyclones may be experienced during the rest of the
year.
What to see and do:
Boating, coral viewing, snorkelling, diving, fishing (outside sanctuary
areas), and swimming are also popular. The coral gardens of Coral Bay are
an easy snorkel from the shore, and you can also view the coral gardens of
Coral Bay by glass-bottomed boat. Vessels take people whale watching from
Exmouth and Coral Bay, mainly from August to October. Diving and fishing
charters are available in the marine park.
Coral Bay foreshore This dive or snorkel begins directly from the foreshore of Coral
Bay and is up to six metres deep at high tide. This is an excellent
dive for novice snorkellers, but experienced divers will enjoy it as
well. A large variety of coral and fish life can be seen, with the
coral beginning only metres from the foreshore. Take great care, as
there is considerable boat traffic.
Turquoise Bay
The bay lies 65 kilometres south of Exmouth, this is an excellent dive
site for the family because of its ease in most conditions, the rich
diversity of coral, fish and other marine life close to shore and the
exceptional beauty of Turquoise Bay itself. Not far from shore, there
are several large coral bombies as well as numerous smaller coral
colonies, particularly brain coral and the slow-growing massive
coral.
Pilgramunna Ledges
Here, snorkellers can discover a surprising diversity of marine life,
some beautiful coral formations, multitudes of colourful reef fish and
occasional oceanic fish species, as well as rays, sharks and diverse
invertebrates. All this is within only 10 metres of the shore.
are just some of hundreds of species of colourful
tropical fish that can be seen. The coral reef fish of Ningaloo are among
the most colourful and beautifully patterned of all living creatures. Even
the novice snorkeller can swim in the shallows and witness an amazing
variety of fish life. They live in and around more than 180 species of
coral, ranging from the cabbage corals, brain corals, lavender corals,
delicate colourful branching corals, which form gardens in the shallow
lagoons.