Exmouth tide times

Whale shark season at Ningaloo runs March through July, peaking April through June. The season starts after the mass coral spawning event that fuels the food chain supporting whale sharks. Spotter aircraft locate whale sharks daily during the season; licensed swim operators provide guaranteed interactions (refunds if no whale sharks are found on your trip). Book well ahead — this is one of the most popular wildlife experiences in Australia. Not bookable with less than 4 to 6 weeks notice in peak season.

Turquoise Bay is 50 km south of Exmouth in Cape Range National Park. Park at the south end of the bay, walk to the marked snorkel entry point on the north side of the bay, enter the water, and drift south with the tidal current past the reef. Exit at the south beach. The drift takes about 20 to 30 minutes and covers 200 metres; you'll see parrotfish, turtles, reef sharks, and hundreds of reef fish in 2 to 5 metres of water. Best on an incoming tide — the current is strongest and the fish most active. A reef snorkel set and reef shoes are recommended.

Tidal range at Exmouth is 1.0 to 1.4 metres on springs. The tidal flush through the Ningaloo lagoon (the zone between the fringing reef and the shore) is what creates the clear, warm water — the exchange brings oceanic water into the lagoon twice daily. The reef crest is exposed or very shallow at low water; the best snorkelling access over the reef top is at mid to high tide when enough water covers the coral without the surge of a full high tide.

Manta rays (Manta alfredi) are resident in the Ningaloo Marine Park year-round, with higher concentrations from May through October. The Manta Bommie cleaning station (an underwater pinnacle) is visited by rays with regularity; dive operators run manta snorkel trips specifically to this site. The rays come to have parasites removed by smaller cleaner fish — the cleaning behaviour means they hover in place, making extended observation possible. A manta snorkel trip typically provides 15 to 30 minutes of sustained manta time.

Loggerhead, hawksbill, and green turtles nest on the beaches of North West Cape from November through March. The main nesting beaches are on the west (Ningaloo) side of the peninsula in Cape Range National Park. Night tours to observe nesting turtles (laying season) and hatchling emergence are run by licensed Ningaloo turtle program operators — check with the Exmouth visitor centre for current season operators. Approaching nesting turtles independently is prohibited; join a licensed tour.