Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia is a 260km fringing reef that supports the largest annual whale shark aggregation in the world — March through August, when the sharks arrive for a coral spawning that follows full moons each March. Humpback whales migrate along the coast between June and November, with permitted in-water snorkel encounters available at peak. Reef mantas, dugongs, and healthy coral round out a destination that is simultaneously world-class and unusually accessible from shore.
What you'll see
Top species with their June status.
Whale Shark
Reef Manta Ray
Humpback Whale
Dugong
The year at a glance
- Water
- 26–29 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 26–29 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 25–27 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 24–26 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 22–25 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 21–24 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 21–24 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 22–25 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 23–26 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 25–27 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
Signature dive sites
The sites you'll hear about in every briefing.
- 01
Navy Pier
Steel-framed jetty north of Exmouth; rated one of Australia's best shore dives.
- 02
Muiron Islands
Offshore islands with reef dives and resident mantas.
- 03
Whale shark encounter (offshore)
Spotter-plane-coordinated surface snorkel with whale sharks.
Getting there
Gateway
Fly into Learmonth (LEA). Visa: eVisitor or ETA required for most nationalities.
Best months
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov