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.
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.
What you'll see
Top species with their April status.
Whale Shark
Reef Manta Ray
Dugong
Humpback Whale
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