Ningaloo reef from exmouth

[karterk]

Hi all,
I'm going to be in Exmouth in a few weeks and will have one day to dive (another for a whale shark tour). I'm interested in Navy Pier, however I would also like to get out to the reef and some other sites. I wanted to know income can do both in the same day, and if anybody has any recommendations for your operators and dive sites. In the event I cannot get to both, would anybody have a recommendation about which site is most preferred

Thanks for your help.

 

[Mick Connolly]

OK...first of all if flying you will need to be careful of the flight time and your no-fly time. I was in Ningaloo early May and it was too windy. Navy Pier was deemed dangerous and the tour cancelled and the day we got out to the whale sharks was the only day in the three days that they went out. I think you will be really pushing to do all three. As you probably understand the whale sharks are a full day. We saw three separate sharks...4m, 7m and 6m beasties. BEAUTIFUL experience. One of them was so interested in us that he/she circled the boat 4 of 5 times....VERY cool. Hope you enjoy them as much as we did.
Now regarding Navy Pier. The Pier is on an active Navy base. There is only one dive company with the rights to enter the base...cant remember which but you will find it. The NP dive varies depending on the day of the week....some are single dives, some are double dives, so contact them to check it out.
Re the reef...on the days we were there the wind and waves had the visibility at buggerall meters so I cant comment too much on the reef. What we ended up doing was going to a place called the oyster stacks. If you are ok with small fish...this was brilliant...great variety. We then stopped into Torquoise bay and the fish there were very friendly...Darts and Sweetlips. but not much else really...there is a nice drift snorkel but be careful of the rip...

All in all that area of the world is great but you will need transport if you are going to independent spots.

Re Exmouth...do not eat at the Chinese...awful. We made the fatal flaw of not watching the fact that the fish and chip shop next door was queues out the door.! Also the food is nice at a "health food" shop on a street with an elevated footpath...fish shop on the corner.

One of the pubs was the first place I have been thrown in to...hehe...they be rough ones.

But back on diving...you will have a ball...

Mick

 

[karterk]

Thanks for the note Mick!

I contacted a dive center, and was told they will be doing a night dive of Navy Pier the day I am interested in diving, so actually may be able to get all three in. However, I'm not sure how the night dive will be there, as I'm assuming I won't be able to see much.

 

[Mick Connolly]

Thanks for the note Mick!

I contacted a dive center, and was told they will be doing a night dive of Navy Pier the day I am interested in diving, so actually may be able to get all three in. However, I'm not sure how the night dive will be there, as I'm assuming I won't be able to see much.

It's crystal turquoise water so visibility "should" be great but don't tell Mother Nature I said that. Make sure you have a 4000lm plus torch.
Regards
Mick

 

[alcina]

Sorry I'm late to the party - been away for a couple of months.

Our water is rarely crystal clear, especially on the Navy Pier 5-12m is average viz most of the year on most of the dive sites.

There's tons to see on the night dives - that site is incredibly active.

I'm back online for the next couple of months, but you can always reach me via email spicylimephoto@gmail.com if I'm not popping in here! happy to help with all things Ningaloo