Coral Bay, a tiny seaside village on Western Australia’s north coast, is a popular winter destination. The perfect getaway is located along the sunny beaches of WA’s Coral Coast, far away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Coral Bay is a paradise for water lovers! Coral Bay, a paradise for ocean lovers, is a place where you can enjoy swimming with whale sharks and mantas.
Coral Bay, with its stunning beaches and relaxed vibes, is one of the paradise destinations that you can easily forget about time. This guide is based on my many visits to Coral Bay.
Coral Bay Snorkeling Tours
Many people consider a trip to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef in far north Queensland to be a must-do. Ningaloo Reef, also known as the “Great Barrier Reef of West”, is a popular tourist destination. The Ningaloo Reef is just as spectacular, yet it’s still relatively unknown to tourists. This adds even more to its appeal.
Coral Bay’s most popular activity is a snorkeling/scuba-diving tour of the Ningaloo Reef. This day will be the highlight of your Coral Bay trip, with an abundance of wildlife, including mantas, whales, sharks, turtles, and reef sharks. Below are some of the best Coral Bay snorkeling trips.
Swimming with Manta Rays is my favorite Coral Bay activity
This full-day tour leaves Coral Bay by boat at 8 am and takes you to the best snorkeling spots on the Ningaloo Reef. You can spend the day swimming with the amazing marine life on the reef. The manta is the star!
The spotter plane will fly around looking for mantas, ensuring that you’ll see them. The manta rays can be found in this area all year long, so no matter when you visit, you’ll have the chance to see one!
This tour was the absolute best thing that we did on our last visit to Coral Bay. Rick went scuba-diving while I chose to join the snorkeling group. We were still able to share the boat/tour that day.
We will never forget the experience of being able to swim up close and personal with these majestic mantas rays!
This tour includes snorkeling gear, guides with experience, morning and afternoon snacks, a lunch buffet, three different snorkeling locations, and one manta-ray swim.
The Manta Ray Tour takes place through Coral Bay Eco Tours. It lasts approximately 6 hours. This day trip was worth every penny.
Coral Bay Whale Shark Swimming Tour
You will have the chance to witness these gentle giants swimming peacefully around the Ningaloo Reef between March and July.
This 8-9-hour boat tour departs at 7:30 a.m. and takes you on a snorkeling adventure through the magnificent coral reef. You’ll see turtles and reef sharks as well as many beautiful fish.
This tour is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to swim with humpback whale sharks. The spotter plane locates the whale sharks and then informs the captain of the boat.
The largest fish in the ocean will be in your presence for an hour. This is a bucket-list-worthy experience, which only a handful of places around the world can offer.
Coral Bay Eco Tours also offers this amazing whale shark tour. This tour includes snorkeling equipment, morning and afternoon snacks, a lunch buffet, champagne, fruit, and a buffet, as well as a 1-hour swim with whale sharks.
Swimming with whale sharks in Coral Bay is one of the most popular activities. You can hire an underwater photographer to swim with you and capture this moment.
Ningaloo Reef Turtle Encounter
Turtles are visible all year on the Ningaloo Reef. This popular 3-hour turtle tour departs in a glass-bottom boat to the best spots for watching turtles in their natural habitat.
Your knowledgeable guide will teach you all about these fascinating creatures as you watch them feed and go about their daily lives.
This boat trip will allow you to see turtles as well as many other exotic fish, corals of different colors, and stunning underwater scenery. This tour includes the opportunity to snorkel in two different locations if desired.
Relaxing Beach Day
Coral Bay has some of Western Australia’s most beautiful beaches. A relaxing day at the beach is a must.
The water is calm, and the sand and sand are both white. There is a coral reef just meters away from the shoreline. It would be an understatement to say that this is a paradise.
Grab a book, a snorkel, and a mask to head over to Bill’s Bay and enjoy the ultimate beach experience. Take a 20-minute walk along the beach to reach the bay next door.
The bay has a shark nursery that is protected. At certain times of the season, you can see up to 200 sharks in the shallow waters.
Sharks are most likely to be in the bay between September and March. At the beginning of September, we were in Coral Bay and saw hundreds! You are not allowed to swim or get close to the sharks.
There are signs warning people to stay away from the area. (We still saw some ignorant people jump in despite these signs.) The best way to see the sharks is from the shore. They can get surprisingly close.
Whale Watching Tours
From June to October, you can see humpback whales migrating up the coast of WA. The 3-hour boat trip will give you the opportunity to see these playful whales up close.
Relax and enjoy a glass or two of champagne while you watch mothers and their calves roll and breach through the water. On this tour, you will probably see other marine species, such as turtles, dolphins, and other whales.
This tour company offers a great ‘ Swimming with Humpback Whales Experience ‘.
Scuba Diving certification
The Ningaloo Reef is the perfect place to learn scuba diving if it’s something you have always wanted to do.
Ningaloo Reef Dive and Snorkel offers a wide range of diving courses for all levels.
You can take the Discovery Scuba dive session if you are curious about diving but don’t want to commit to a full course. An experienced instructor will show you how to dive and swim alongside mantas. This is an introduction to scuba and does not count towards any PADI certifications.
Visit the official Ningaloo Dive & Snorkel Website for more information and to book a course. All diving courses come with diving equipment, as well as a lunch and drinks aboard the boat.
Take a Glass Bottom Boat Tour
The Ningaloo Reef is home to a variety of sea life that can be enjoyed without diving or snorkeling. From the comfort of your glass bottom boat, marvel at the coral formations and animals that live there.
This short excursion lasts for an hour and is designed to allow those who do not wish to get wet to enjoy the underwater world. The guide will take you to the shallow part of the reef, where you can see a variety of colorful fish and explain what you are looking at.
Coral Bay Quad Bike tours
Experience a quad bike adventure that is off the beaten track in Coral Bay. Coral Bay is a truly isolated coastline, and these quad-bike tours will take you to some of the most pristine, untouched beaches and dunes. You can choose from a variety of times, but none are bad!
Turtle Adventure takes you to an overlook where you can see turtles feeding in the turquoise water below. Sunset Trek is the perfect way to end a day of fun by riding along beautiful beaches and stopping at a spectacular sunset location. The Snorkel Trek takes you to the best snorkeling locations away from the crowds at Bill’s Bay.