Ningaloo reef in May 2005

[Freesub]

Hello everyone,

after seven years I will be going to Oz once again!!! I am looking forward to smelling the country once again.
Anyway, I am planning to stay in Perth 4-5 nights and then head straight to Exmouth, where I will be attending my DM course.
I just wanted to hear any experience from the Ningaloo area, and to know if I will have a chance to see a whale shark at that time of the year. The dive center says that whale sharks are around till mid June ... and I read an article on a diving magazines that says until beginning of May ..... it makes a difference to me!!!
Any tale, story, advice, warning, ... is accepted and appreciated!

Thanks and enjoy life over all...

Freesub

 

[Mark Goodchild]

According to Exmouth Dive Centre (who are very helpful!) and most books I've read you should still see the whale sharks this time of year. I'm heading out there in June and I'm still hoping they will be around!

Here are some links to their sites:
www.exmouthdiving.com.au
www.ningalooreefdive.com

Hope this helps!

 

[Freesub]

Hello Mark,
Thanks very much for your news ... I checked the web sites and hope we will see them! I will probably catch you in Exmouth then, I will be aroud till late June and will probably have a "DM in training" T-shirt on ... what about a dive and cool beers afterwards?
See ya
Freesub

 

[Mark Goodchild]

Sounds good!

We will be there from the 1st of June to around the 13th! Although we'll be spending half the time in Coral Bay.

Hoping to get quite a bit of diving done.

Count me in for the beer!
Cheers.

 

[blacklatexozdiver]

Enjoy the trip... I wish I was going!

 

[drbill]

Uh, do you have room in your dive bag? I'll try to lose enough weight so I don't put you over the limit. Have a fantastic trip.

Dr. Bill

 

[Stivo]

My friend and I are looking at the same trip in May this year. The whale sharks are my prime motivation for going... and beer is a close second!

Here are some other links I had...


Exmouth Area north of Perth, Ningaloo reef:

www.coralbayadventures.com.au
www.ningalooreefdive.com
www.exmouthdiving.com.au
www.ningalooblue.com.au
www.whalesharkdive.com

Rottnest Island close to Perth:

www.rottnestdiving.com.au


Anyone have good info on cheap places to stay or camp?

 

[champ]

I don't think there is a better spot in the world to see whale sharks at that time of year. You hear about a lot of places that have whale sharks but Ningaloo reef is in a whole different catagory that time of year. You WILL see a whale shark ... I don't know of any other dive location that you can be gauranteed a pelagic with as high a percent. They will find the whale sharks with the planes. You are only able to snorkle with the whale sharks. It's almost worth buying a pair of large free diving fins for the experience in case the whale shark is swimming "fast" (otherwise some people can only keep up for one or two minutes and need to hope back in the boat for another "drop" - I had 7 drops when I was there). The whale shark will be just below the surface in the deep ocean. Another thing that you can be gauranteed to see there are Manta Rays (also spotted by airplanes). This is also a must do. Unfortunately, the whale shark adventure costs $300, the Mantas are a lot cheaper - I forget the price but I think it was $125.

 

[aussie_shark_bait]

Lucky you on going to Ningaloo, I am also planning my trip fortunately I don't have to travel for any length of time just a quick plane trip up north.

I was lucky enough this Xmas to win on a diving community form here in AUstralia an Exmouth Whale Shark diving trip worth $400+ with one of the Exmouth diving companies...So I am veyr much looking forward to thsi adventure, unfortunately I have to time it right for my partners Submarine to be back so he can do the babysitting or I con my Mum and Dad in to coming over so Dad and I can go dive the whale sharks and Mum can be the said babysitter.

I hope you have a great trip.

ASB

 

[Freesub]

Ciao everybody,
thanks for your replies and wishes ... if anyone pays in beers I might find some room in my bag.

Stivo: hope to see you there in May ... as said I will have a "DM in training" T-Shirt on ... Exmouthdiving center. Thanks for all the addresses, some of wich I didn't know.
Unfortunately it has been seven years I don't go to WA so I cannot help with cheap accomadiotion .... ANYBODY CAN???

Hope you'll find a babysitter aussie_shark_bait, might dive together ... you lucky dude!!!

Champ ... thanks for your positive message, appreciated!

Enjoy your safe diving whereever you may bee, and let's non-divers know how precious the oceans are!!!

Ciao
Freesub