Swimming alongside a massive, gentle whale shark is a core bucket-list experience that changes how you view the ocean forever. Western Australia's Ningaloo Reef is one of the few places on Earth where these gentle giants gather reliably close to shore.
2025-05-15
Above, Below and Beyond: Ningaloo Reef Encounters The whale shark season in Exmouth runs from March to July each year, making our April visit the absolute sweet spot to experience pristine water clarity and high encounter rates. Planning a multi-perspective adventure on Western Australia's spectacular Ningaloo Coast? We chose the team at Ocean Eco Adventures. They use a luxurious, stable 21.9-metre vessel called Latitude 22 , which features expansive viewing decks and a massive, low swim platform that makes sliding into the water effortless. The Teamwork : Birds Eye View holds a specialized Air Operators Certificate to serve as the spotter aircraft for Ocean Eco Adventures . While they are soaring above, the pilot is communicating with the boat below, guiding the boat directly to the marine life. This is a real benefit, and can substantially increase your chance of a whale shark encounter. We were so impressed by the aerial spotting that we decided to pay Birds Eye View a visit ourselves, after our whale shark experience, and honestly, taking a scenic flight in an open-cockpit microlight plane provides an unmatched perspective of the contrasting red canyons and turquoise marine sanctuary. To truly appreciate the wild scale of the North West Cape, you have to leave the ground, and was definitely a fantastic experience. Under the Surface: Scuba Diving the Navy Pier If you are keen to transition from snorkelling to scuba diving, Exmouth also hosts one of the top shore-dive destinations on the planet: the Exmouth Navy Pier . Because this is an active military structure where fishing is strictly banned, the marine life underneath has grown to gargantuan proportions. It acts as a condensed, high-density marine oasis. While the visibility wasn't great when we dived here, the sheer volume of life made it unforgettable. You can expect to come face-to-face with schooling trevally, wobbegong sharks, nudibranchs, grey nurse sharks resting in the shadows, and, our personal favourite, absolutely massive Queensland gropers!