Diving In Western Australia
Western Australia is certainly one of the largest and most diverse states. Admired for its amazing and unique coastline it is a scuba diver’s paradise, filled with the most extraordinary diving experiences. Shark Bay and Ningaloo Reef are part of Western Australia’s World Heritage listed dive sites and noted amongst divers, together with Australia’s East Coast Great Barrier Reef, as the top shelf of “Must Do” dive experiences while in Australia. Western Australia also has the world’s largest fringing reef – this means you can snorkel out and explore the reef easily from one of the many safe and accessible beaches along this stretch of Australia’s coastline.
Ningaloo Reef is one of the few places on earth where you can swim with whale sharks – the world’s largest fish. It is a snorkelling only experience, so everyone can enjoy a face-to-fin encounter with these gentle giants, a truly awesome and humbling experience to add to your bucket list. Ningaloo’s whale shark season generally runs from March to July; however, the season can often stretch through to August and even September. Globally, it’s very rare to find these creatures so close to shore, but they visit Ningaloo every year. To get close to the action, join a whale shark snorkel tour from Exmouth or Coral Bay. These tours boast a very high success rate of swimming with the whale shark; by using spotter planes, operators know where to head to ensure they capture this breathtaking experience.
Other excellent scuba diving locations around Exmouth include the Murion Islands, Light House Bay and the well published Navy Pier. Dive with brightly adorned fish in the Bundegi Bombies reef sanctuary. Get up close to sci-fi sponges, gorgonians and sea whips at the entrance to the Exmouth Gulf. Mingle with turtles, manta rays, dolphins, dugongs, batfish, angelfish and clownfish to name only a few. Shark Bay’s rare plant and animal life will also appeal to nature lovers and is best uncovered touring with Wula Guda Nyinda Eco Adventures experience, which will teach you the traditions of one of the world’s oldest cultures.
So there has never been a better time to check out the whale sharks and diving tours that Western Australia has to offer. To find out more, visit www.diveinaustralia.com.au.
