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Coast and reef at Ningaloo, Western Australia

Ningaloo Reef

Diving in Australia

5 documented dive sites, 2 of them for Open Water divers. Known for whale sharks, manta rays and leopard (zebra) sharks.

Best months
Mar–Oct
Water
20–28 °C
Levels
Open Water, Advanced
Diving from
Day boats

Photo: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

When to go

Pick a month: the diving season, from published sources, and the typical weather.

Pick a month

  • Best
  • Good
  • Possible
  • Closed
  • Not documented yet

Ningaloo Reef in October

Best season
Sea
24 °C
at the surface
Air
31 °C
18 °C at night
Rain
< 10 mm
one of the driest months
Wind
22 km/h
on average

The windiest month.

Typical weather, not a forecast: averages for 2021–2025 (air, rain, wind) and 2023–2025 (sea), data from Open-Meteo (ERA5 / Copernicus, Météo-France). Covers an area of roughly 10 to 25 km around the destination.

Operators and PADI name March–October as the best/optimal diving period (shown as best). Nov–Feb is shown as good, not possible: sources do not describe it as poor (turtle nesting Nov–Mar, mantas present year-round per DBCA), only as outside the optimal window. DBCA: peak visitor season is Easter to October.

Source: exmouthdiving.com.au

Dive sites in Ningaloo Reef

From the easiest to the most demanding. Levels with a dashed outline are estimates we are still verifying.

Open Water friendly

usual dive down to 18 m2 sites

For Advanced divers

usual dive down to 30 m3 sites

Marine life

When the big encounters happen, month by month.

SpeciesJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Whale sharksSource: exmouthdiving.com.au
Humpback whalesSource: exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au
TurtlesSource: exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au
CoralsSource: exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au
Manta raysSource: exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au
Ragged-tooth sharksSource: australiascoralcoast.com
DolphinsSource: whalesharkdive.com
DugongSource: whalesharkdive.com
  • Peak season
  • Seen

Whale sharks: Mar–Aug. Humpback whales: Jun–Nov. Turtles: Nov–Mar. Corals: Mar–Apr. Manta rays: All year. Ragged-tooth sharks: Jun–Aug. Dolphins: All year. Dugong: All year

Also reported here, season not documented yet:

  • Leopard (zebra) sharks
  • Reef sharks
  • Groupers
  • Sea snakes

Where is Ningaloo Reef?

View on OpenStreetMapLocation: Ningaloo Coast (Wikipedia)Map: Natural Earth
How people dive here
Day boats

Ningaloo Reef: frequently asked questions

When is the best time to dive Ningaloo Reef?
The best months to dive Ningaloo Reef are Mar–Oct. Operators and PADI name March–October as the best/optimal diving period (shown as best). Nov–Feb is shown as good, not possible: sources do not describe it as poor (turtle nesting Nov–Mar, mantas present year-round per DBCA), only as outside the optimal window. DBCA: peak visitor season is Easter to October.
Is Ningaloo Reef good for beginner divers?
Yes, partly: 2 of the 5 dive sites we document are suited to Open Water divers, including Coral Bay (shore dive) and Blizzard Ridge. The others need more experience or a higher certification.
What is the water temperature in Ningaloo Reef?
The water is usually between 20 °C and 28 °C over the year.
What marine life can you see in Ningaloo Reef?
Divers regularly see whale sharks (Mar–Aug), humpback whales (Jun–Nov), turtles (Nov–Mar), corals (Mar–Apr), manta rays (all year) and leopard (zebra) sharks.
How do you dive Ningaloo Reef?
Ways to dive here: day boats.

About this page

Seasons and marine life come from the sources below. Site levels and depths marked as estimated come from our original catalogue and are being checked one by one. Conditions change: always confirm with a local dive centre.

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Photo: Sarah Lee on Unsplash
Photo credits