WHEN CAN I SEE WHALE SHARKS? MANTA RAYS? HUMPBACK WHALES?
Whale shark season goes from 1 March to 31 July. The best time to see them is usually mid-season in April or May. Humpback whale season runs from 1 July to 30 November. The best time to see them is from August to September. We are fortunate enough to have manta rays frequenting our waters all year round.
WHAT IS INCLUDED ON THE MANTA RAY INTERACTION TOUR?
All your snorkelling or diving equipment, food, drinking water and hot drinks are included. The day starts with a 50-minute snorkel or dive on the reef, after which we head to the bay where we usually find mantas. Our spotter plane will begin its search for manta rays. If a manta ray is located, then we will have the opportunity to swim with it. After the swim, we serve lunch before heading back to the reef for our second dive or snorkel.
CAN I SCUBA WITH THE WHALE SHARKS? MANTA RAYS? HUMPBACK WHALES?
Unfortunately no, we do not dive with these animals. They are all found in completely different areas to the dive sites and we also aren’t allowed to dive with whale sharks or humpback whales. It’s snorkelling only with them! If you are a diver, please look at our dedicated dive trips and manta ray interaction trips.
DO I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO SNORKEL?
You do not need to know how to snorkel, but it certainly helps. The more confident you are in the water, the more comfortable you’ll be on the tour. The crew are happy to help show you how to fit a mask and snorkel, and are there to answer any questions.
HOW MUCH SWIMMING WILL BE INVOLVED?
It depends on the individual animal, each animal can behave differently. Some are quite curious and calm whereas others are moving faster and seem uninterested in being around swimmers. On average the animals are swimming at a slow pace for them, which can be a relatively brisk swim for us humans! Be prepared to do a fair amount of swimming throughout the day.
I’VE NEVER BEEN SCUBA DIVING BEFORE BUT WANT TO TRY.
That’s great! We offer Discover SCUBA Diving (DSD) on our Manta Ray Interaction Tour. We need a minimum of two DSDs on the tour. You’ll be with an instructor the whole time who will show you how to dive. Please note that a DSD is an experience only and won’t certify you to dive. You would need to complete a full SCUBA certification course to receive your dive licence.
HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN COME ON THE BOAT?
We can take 22 people on the Ningaloo Adventure and Manta Ray Tour.
CAN MY CHILD COME WITH ME ON THE TOUR?
On the Manta Ray Interaction Tour, children must be 4 years of age or older – this is because of the smaller size of the boat and the fact that there will be divers with heavy tanks and equipment. All children must be supervised by an adult at all times. If your child is staying on the boat during a swim, there must be an adult on the boat with them.
WILL THERE BE A PHOTOGRAPHER ON THE BOAT?
Yes! Ocean Collective Media provide a professional photography service onboard our Manta Ray Tours. Using top of the range photography equipment they aim to capture all your memories from throughout your tour with us. Following the conclusion of your tour photography packages are available for purchase from your tours photographer. For more information regarding photography packages, contact info@ocmedia.com.au or check out their Instagram page @oceancollectivemedia for an insight into life on the World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef!
DO YOU USE A SPOTTER PLANE?
Yes! A spotter plane is used to search for Manta Rays.
WHAT IS THE WATER TEMPERATURE?
The water temperature ranges from 25°C to 28°C February to June and from 18°C to 24°C July to January
WHAT IS THE DEPTH AT THE SNORKEL AND DIVE SITES?
Most of the sites we visit are located within the reef. For divers, the average depth is between 8 to 12m. Our snorkellers are guided around the more exposed areas of the sites which can be as shallow as 1 to 2m. For our outer reef dive experiences, we can reach up to 25m.
WHAT IS THE VISIBILITY FOR SNORKELLERS AND DIVERS?
It changes every day. Visibility can be as much as 20-25m or as little as 5m. On average it’s around 10-15m.
WHAT OTHER ANIMALS WILL I SEE ON TOUR?
There are hundreds of species of fish on the reef plus sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, invertebrates, whales and more. There is no guarantee of seeing anything (other than coral!) but we do our best to show you as much marine life as possible.
HOW BIG ARE THE WAVES? DO I NEED TO TAKE SEASICKNESS MEDICATION?
Conditions on the inside of the reef are typically calmer and more sheltered than the outer reef. Our Manta Ray Interaction Tour stays inside the reef and is usually relatively calm. The other tours go outside the reef to open ocean where conditions vary widely. Some days are flat whereas other days there can be swell up to a couple meters. We will cancel tours if the skipper decides it is unsafe to take people on the boat. If you think you may get seasick, it’s best to take medication! Kwells or Travacalm are the most common brands in Australia and can be purchased at the local supermarket. Please note we do not have any at our shop or on the boats.
HOW DO I GET TO YOUR SHOP? DO YOU ARRANGE PICKUPS?
All the tours start at our shop. We’re located at shop 8 in the Coral Bay Shopping Arcade. It’s an easy 5-minute walk from anywhere in town! If you’re driving from Exmouth, it takes 90 minutes. We do not offer pickups for our tours.
0499 464 007
Email us
