Advice on diving Ningaloo

[WetPup]

So after living in Perth for a couple of years, I'm finally planning a long-weekend trip up to Ningaloo for whale shark season...I'm a little confused though, as my google research has not proved particularly helpful. None of the dive shop websites I found seemed to offer scuba diving with the whale sharks. They offered day trips to see the whale sharks with snorkelling only. Is there a reason for this? Or has my google searching missed one of the dive ops who does let you dive with them?

Appreciate any advice

 

[MA]

No diving with whalesharks at ningaloo. Snorkelling only. It is restricted. But the snorkellingis great!! Although very organised. Ie spotter plane find the sharks, the boats head to them, snorkellers jump in in turn.

 

[WetPup]

Thanks! I suspected as much. Any idea why it's restricted though? Random policy? Or do the whale sharks not like the bubbles or something?

 

[MA]

Someone else might be able to better answer this, but it is about conservation and protectipn for the sharks. Practically anywAy, they are out deep and there woyldnt be time to get in for a dive once the spotters find them. All i saw were on the move. I did see 5 different sharks on the day, so heaps of time in with them. And it was great, but a little bit like going to a zoo. Im very jealous of all those lucky ones who have just had a whaleshark appear on a dive.

Being from oz you might want to think about heading to the gbr in winter for the minkes. Now that was cool. Beat the ningaloo whale sharks hands down. Again just snirkelling, but ey are curiois and hang around for hours. And thy come up really close, like a metre or so, just to chack you out.

In fact i should go back and do it again!

 

[ocdiver1]

If you go to Ningaloo don't miss diving the Navy Pier, rated one of the top ten dives in the world. If you want a recommendation on dive ops, I dove with Ningaloo Reef Dreaming when I was there and had a good experience...plus they were the only operator that had the contract to dive the pier.

 

[WetPup]

ocdiver1: As I understand it, Ningaloo Reef Dreaming no longer hold the contract to dive the pier. But thanks for the tip

MA: Yes, I know about the minke whale trips. I've been out diving on Spoilsport on the 7 day Coral Sea-Cod Hole itinerary before and really enjoyed it. It was pretty much a toss up between whale shark diving and the minke whale diving anyway. I'm not sure whether to re-evaluate now that you let me know about the no-scuba restriction with the whale sharks at Ningaloo. Need to give it some more thought.

 

[alcina]

Great to hear you are coming up to Ningaloo Reef! The whale sharks are awesome as is the diving all along the Ningaloo Reef system.

As has been said, there is no scuba diving with the whale sharks here, it's DEC policy. The "why" can be debated until the cows come home, but ultimately, it's the rule that all operators must abide by to meet license conditions.

The good thing is there is no real reason to bother with scuba with our whale sharks. They are usually right at the surface, often with a tip of the tail or doral fin sticking out. The vast majority of days see multiple sharks and multiple interactions with whale sharks and plenty of opportunity for photos, if that's your thing

Ningaloo Whaleshark N Dive have the current access to the Pier.

Exmouth Diving Centre is doing both Whale Sharks and diving on the reef through the entire season.

Easter is crazy here so if you can avoid it, do. I've lived here on the Ningaloo Reef since 1996 and always suggest to my own friends & family that they visit as late in May as possible or anytime in June. Great whale sharks, great diving and the mantas & earliest migrating humpbacks should be around during that period (and usually through July). The air and water temps are a bit cooler during that time frame, but it's worth it, imho.

Be happy to catch up for a drink or a dive while you're here

Let me know if you have any other questions on diving the Ningaloo!