| Whale Sharks – Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef 1st April – 30th July |
| Did you know that the Whale Shark is the biggest and one of the rarest fish in the world’s oceans and has been around for about 16 million years! Well at Ningaloo Reef an amazing opportunity awaits you from April to July to snorkel with Whale Sharks in beautiful clear blue waters. Ocean Eco Adventures offers Whale Shark Discovery cruises that depart daily from Exmouth, Western Australia. |
| These plankton eating gentle giants visit the waters of Ningaloo Reef each year around the coral spawning event on the West Coast. Although they can dive to depths of 1500m the whale sharks found at Ningaloo Reef are generally swimming on the surface and travel at about 3-5kms per hour. During the whale shark season at Ningaloo Reef up to 175 different sharks are sited throughout the season, making it one of the largest, most significant and reliable aggregations of these amazing animals anywhere in the world. In 2009 Ocean Eco Adventures clients swam with around 75 different sharks. Both male and female Whale Sharks up to 14m in length aggregate at Ningaloo Reef, although many are juvenile males around 4-6m in length. Whale Sharks are thought to live between the ages of 70-100 years and are around 30 years old when they reach sexual maturity. |
| The Ocean Eco Adventures Whale Shark Discovery cruise begins with a courtesy bus transfer from your accommodation around Exmouth to Tantabiddi Boat Ramp on the west side of Northwest Cape where you meet your team and board the company vessel, “Keshi-Mer”. The fast, modern, well equipped 18m vessel features comfortable cushioned seating, a large shaded deck area, broad timber swim platform, clear side curtains on the main deck that allow great viewing whilst protecting you from the wind and spray, a large bow area for marine animal viewing, full galley, toilet and hot fresh water rinse shower, making it the perfect vessel to experience the magic of the Ningaloo Reef. |
Ocean Eco Adventures Whale Shark Discovery tours feature an exclusive spotter aircraft to search the reef for Whale Sharks, allowing the boat to move freely and venture to its own areas and find Whale Sharks away from other vessels. A focus on allowing as much time in the water snorkelling with the Whale Sharks as possible is a feature of an Ocean Eco Adventures tour. A maximum of 18 snorkellers are taken on each tour, offering a more intimate experience. A snorkel guide accompanies each group whilst a company videographer takes footage of the Whale Shark and other marine life sited throughout the day.
During the day an opportunity to snorkel on the Ningaloo Reef is offered at coral sites with abundant tropical fish life. The crew also search for Turtles, Dolphins, Dugong, Rays and Sea Birds and other marine life throughout the day. The excitement doesn’t stop with the marine viewing and interaction, a feature on all tours is also delicious gourmet food featuring fresh Western Australian produce.
A complimentary DVD of the tour completes a memorable tour package. |
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| Wildlife Discovery – Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef 1st April – 30th August |
| Be part of a true discovery as you explore the marine life wonders and incredible diversity of the Ningaloo Marine Park. |
| The Ningaloo Marine Park, declared in 1987, is an extremely healthy coral reef system with over 500 different species of fish and 250 species of corals. The word 'Ningaloo' is an Aboriginal word that means a 'promontory' of high land jutting into the sea. Ningaloo Reef is one of the largest fringing coral reef systems in the world and was recently identified by a symposium of some of the world’s leading coral reef scientists as likely to be one of the last significant coral reefs left in world if global warming is not brought under control. |
| All year round there are Turtles - four marine turtle species have been recorded in the marine park including the hawksbill, leatherback, green and loggerhead turtles. Ningaloo Reef is a globally significant breeding area for threatened green sea turtles. |
| One of the largest populations of Dugong in the world, three different species of Dolphin, Manta Rays and many different species of Sting Rays are all part of the myriad of larger animals that inhabit the reef. |
| Minke whales, Brydes whales, Fin whales, Blue whales and Orca’s are all seen in Ningaloo waters as well as being on the main migration route for one of the largest Humpback whale populations in the world. |
| This day tour departs from the “west-side” of the Cape and explores of all that is Ningaloo. Lots of snorkelling on the reef, searching for a variety of marine life, a cruise of the coastline and turquoise lagoons and gourmet delicious food served throughout the day. |
Search for Dolphins, Dugongs, Manta Rays, Turtles and Whales (seasonal). A spotter aircraft is used to assist in locating marine life. Snorkel at fantastic coral sites with loads of tropical fish and cruise the coast whilst viewing the Cape Range National Park from a seaside perspective. |
