Destinations
If you have been to Ningaloo Reef before, please share your experiences, ideas and feedback (Hotel, Excursions, General Feeling,…) in the comments section below, by doing so you will help fellow travellers to plan their next trip
Ningaloo is in Western Australia. Exmouth and Coral Bay are separate bases, a substantial road journey apart; neither is a suburb of Perth.
Updated 13 October 2026.
Access update — 13 October 2026: Dive Ningaloo reports Navy Pier closed for maintenance. Its Muiron Islands tours also remain paused after bleaching; that operator is offering Westside reef trips instead. Do not mistake the Muiron pause for a park-wide legal closure.
In this page you will find practical information to plan a scuba diving trip to Ningaloo Reef:
Table of contents
Where to stay?
I usually use this website to book in advance my hotels in Ningaloo Reef as they usually have the lowest rates I find. I like it because it's free to cancel and change the dates.
There are numerous camping sites and caravan parks around Exmouth. The town also has resorts, apartments and budget accommodation. Book Coral Bay accommodation separately if your activities start there; park camping requires its own booking and does not include a room, drinking water or a reef tour.
What should you budget for?
Use a dated total quote, then add the items that are not included. A headline boat fare is only part of the holiday cost.
| Budget item | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Reef or cruise fare | Dates, per-person basis, cabin/room occupancy and deposit/cancellation terms |
| Diving extras | Guided dives, rental, Nitrox where available and medical screening |
| Access and transport | Reef/park charges, fuel surcharges, flights, road/ferry transfers and parking |
| Land stay | Arrival night, meals, optional excursions, insurance and evacuation cover |
Activities and excursions in Ningaloo Reef
There is still plenty to do outside of the water — you can enjoy the wildlife and explore Cape Range National Park. Allow for heat, water supplies and current park access. Licensed whale-shark trips are primarily swimming experiences; ask whether a boat-only companion can join and at what price.
Travelling with a non-diver?
Dive Ningaloo’s Westside trip lists a snorkeller fare of AUD 275 per person (13 October 2026). Confirm snorkel supervision, equipment, meals and transfers for that booking; it is a day boat with no cabin. Whale-shark tours are separate products with different fares and wildlife policies.
Best time to visit Ningaloo Reef
The licensed whale-shark season is most reliable around March–July, without guaranteed sightings. Coral Bay manta outings are offered year-round, subject to conditions. Summer heat and wind can shape plans as much as the calendar. Consult DBCA whale-shark guidance and the operator’s current schedule.
The official Australian cyclone season is November–April. Check Bureau of Meteorology warnings before travelling; sailings can change outside those months too.
Health and Safety
Pack certification and recent dive records, personal medication, sun and rain protection, and offline joining instructions. Confirm rental sizes, dietary needs, baggage limits and battery rules before departure. Bring an adapter suitable for Australia and do not rely on mobile reception offshore.
Tell the operator about relevant health conditions before paying. Queensland medical-fitness guidance explains screening and when medical clearance is needed. Arrange insurance that covers your planned diving and evacuation; a boat safety plan is not insurance.
If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Ningaloo Reef, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Where is Ningaloo Reef located in the world?
Ningaloo is in Western Australia. Exmouth and Coral Bay are separate bases, a substantial road journey apart; neither is a suburb of Perth.
Ningaloo Reef itinerary map
Select routes independently. Numbers show stop order; arrows show indicative direction. Port and reef references are not exact dive-entry positions.
- Exmouth → Tantabiddi · road transfer: Exmouth town → Tantabiddi boat ramp.
- Exmouth → Turquoise Bay · shore-snorkel day: Exmouth town → Tantabiddi boat ramp → Turquoise Bay → Exmouth town.
Connections show the order of regional references, not navigation tracks or guaranteed stops. Weather, permits and the booked itinerary determine access. Read the named boat review for exact joining instructions and any flight transfer.
The plotted routes are land-transfer/shore-excursion context. Actual roads go around the cape; follow road signs. Boat dive and wildlife tracks vary and are not invented here. Navy Pier is closed and Dive Ningaloo’s Muiron trips are paused.
Principal reef and snorkelling references
- Turquoise Bay: Shore-snorkel reference. Follow DBCA current and sandbar warnings; not a navigation or water-entry instruction.
- Coral Bay · Ningaloo: Coral Bay settlement reference for nearby reef snorkelling and boat trips; not an exact reef entry point.
Map references checked 13 October 2026: Tantabiddi access · Turquoise Bay · Boat ramp coordinates · Bay coordinates. Positions are for trip planning, not navigation.
How to get to Ningaloo Reef?
Learmonth Airport (LEA) serves Exmouth, with flights via Perth subject to current schedules. Check Learmonth Airport information and reserve the onward transfer in advance. Airport shuttles should not be assumed to meet every flight. A Perth road trip needs multiple travel days and planned fuel/rest stops, not a same-day connection to a morning boat.
Leave an appropriate interval between your last scuba dive and flying, using DAN guidance and your operator’s requirements. Plan this before booking the return flight, including any scenic or island-transfer flight.
Do I need a visa for Ningaloo Reef?
Entry requirements depend on your passport and status. Use the Australian Government visa finder before booking; a reef tour does not arrange immigration permission for you.
Getting Around
The easiest way to travel this part of Australia is to have your own wheels. It will be much easier if you want to visit the Cape Range National Park between your dives. Town accommodation is not walking distance from every reef beach or boat ramp. Check rental restrictions and avoid driving tired or at wildlife-heavy times.
Before you book
Choose your base and trip first, confirm eligibility and the full fare, then match flights and accommodation to the joining instructions.
Ningaloo Reef planning questions
Can I book Navy Pier now?
The operator reports a maintenance closure as of 13 October 2026. Wait for an explicit reopening notice and dated availability.
Is Ningaloo a good choice without scuba certification?
Yes: shore snorkelling and licensed wildlife swims are major attractions. Swimming ability, tide and supervision still matter.
Should I stay in Exmouth or Coral Bay?
Exmouth suits North West Cape outings and Cape Range. Coral Bay offers a smaller settlement beside the reef. Check where your chosen tour actually starts.
Ningaloo Reef Photos
Scuba diving
You will find all information about sea life, best time to visit, top dive spots, etc. in our review: Ningaloo Reef Diving
Diving Reviews for this region
Ningaloo Reef
The Ningaloo Reef is located on the stunning West Coast of Australia. Choose Exmouth for the North West Cape and Coral Bay for a compact reef holiday farther south. This is a fringing-reef destination with shore snorkelling, boat dives and seasonal wildlife trips; it is not part of the Great Barrier
Actually I was wondering about going to the Ningaloo Reef. I’m working in Perth and have two days at the end to take my 13 year old daughter snorkeling. We can either fly up to Exmouth or go ahead and fly over to Cairns and do a day trip to the GBR. We’ll be there the third week of August. Any suggestions?
Hello Allyson, I think it is best to fly to Exmouth as Snorkelling the Ningaloo Reef is really awsome. The Great Barrier Reef will be full of tourists in August!
Hai there,
Is it also possible to see whalesharks around March 5th? Thank you!
Kind regards,
Claire du Pon (The Netherlands)
Hi,
we are planning to visit the Region in Februar, would you recommend this time? Will there be anything to see?
Best regards
Hi Alice! Mostly, February will be very hot I think! Regarding scuba diving during this time, the only specific thing I can think of would be the baby turtles in some spot as many species are know to hatch in January / February. I would ask the local dive center. Otherwise, it seems that February an “in between” season for many species.
Either way, you’ll have a blast. Never been personally but just looking at a few videos on youtube and I know diving the Ningaloo Reef is being up for some amazing time!
Hopefully you’ll come back and give us a feedback from your journey? I’d be looking much forward to reading you!
Best bubbles, always!
Hi, I was considering a trip with friends to Ningaloo two weeks in May 2021. What is the best time to go there and enjoy the activities like swimming, diving, hiking…
I live in Sydney and have never been in WA.
Cheers
K
Hi Khanh!
The Ningaloo / Coral Bay area being in the north of Australia, I would say it’s pretty much warm all year long. Thus, May sounds good in terms of getting warm weather, consistent sunny days and so you will be able to do a bunch of activities! As for scuba diving, please refer to the above section for the specs of each period of the year but I can already say that… chances are high for whale shark sightings in May!
Hope this helps!
Safe bubbles, always!
Hi, is it save there or are there sharks in jan/feb?
I was stationed at Harold E Holt base there! I lived on the Cape for 15 months, diving the Ningaloo Reef and the Gulf during that time! This was in 1985-86 when it was more pristine there!
There are things I’ve seen there that I’ve never seen before or ever seen researching. You can’t make that up and you can’t take the memories away! What a time! 2800 hours logged in that area!
I was stationed at Harold E Holt base in 1985-86. I logged about 2800 hours diving during that time, there! I dove the reef and in the Gulf!
It was a pristine area and amazing! I saw things I’ve never seen before and have not seen shared online ever since.
Those are things I can’t make up and memories that you can’t take away! What a time!
Hello from Sydney
Visiting family in November in Perth. Taking a flight up to Learmonth.
Have seen many a tours for more than a day don’t work in the month of November. Would you suggest Exmouth and do day tours? or I would love to stay in coral bay and do day tours there.
FYI- Don’t want to hire a car