Ningaloo Reef - Australia
Jim Rainbow's Trip to Oz - May 2004
NINGALOO REEF –
As the club trips were cancelled due to poor weather last month I have been roped into writing about my trip to Aussie last month. While there I had the pleasure of diving with the Whale Sharks that visit the Ningaloo Reef between April and August each year. The reef is located approximately 1300 km north of
Several companies have permits to offer whale shark watching, snorkeling and diving, but it is not guaranteed that you will see one! About 75% of trips got lucky with sightings this year. The trip is a full day out on a 40 foot boat and costs about $350 per person. As with Kaikoura, spotter planes are used to direct boats towards these huge mammals.
Once in location, no more than 8 divers and one guide enter the water about 50 metres ahead of the whale shark. It is a snorkel dive only – no scuba allowed. Once you see the animal, you typically snorkel alongside it for 10 – 15 minutes – some effort is required to keep up with the fish! The boat then picks you up.
The whole process is repeated 3 – 4 times provided the whale shark stays near the surface. The guides will take photos for the group and divers are permitted to take their own photos and videos as well.
Our group also swam with manta rays and turtles on separate dives later in the day. Of note is that we were the only group to see whale sharks during the week we were in the area.
The shark we swam with was approximately 8 metres long and very spectacular. I have a photos and a video available if anybody is interested. This would rate as one of the best dive experiences available and certainly one of the neatest trips I have done!