NINGALOO ALL THE WAY!!!
Everything about the west coast is better. The atmosphere there is much more laid back than the hectic, tourist over-ridden East Coast.
The dive shops run much smaller, more personal opperations than the GBR and Ningaloo is much more pristine. I wouldn't say the Ningaloo has the most colorful coral, but the colors and variety of fish and animal life is spectacular.
One of my favorite dives ever was out of Coral Bay on the Ningaloo Reef. Coral Bay is maybe an hour S of Exmouth. There I dove Elbow Reef. We were surrounded by 3-4 Gigantic Manta Rays from the momment we decended. We spent most of the dive just watching them in amazement. They swam within meters of us. SPECTACULAR! What else...Giant Cod, Eels, Angelfish, Wrasse, Lion Fish, Black tip sharks, Wobbygong Sharks. I also went on their Whale Shark trip and saw one of the first sharks of the season. Feb is probably too early though.
I dove with Ningaloo Reef Dive Coral Bay. They are the same company I dove with in Exmouth, but I think they have a different name there. You can purchase multiple dives and use them at either the Coral Bay or Exmouth shop. There were only 4-6 other people on the boat with me. There is only 1 other dive shop in Exmouth.
Both Coral Bay and Exmouth have great shore snorkelling sites where you can see big Bommies, Brain Coral, Stag Coral, Sharks, Sting Rays and tons of fish. Be sure to visit the National Park out of Exmouth. Turquiose Bay has a great shore drift dive, but beware of strong currents. LakeSide had the best big Bommies. If you like walking, Yardie Gorge is definately worth a visit. We climbed down the ridge and spent the day swimming in the creek while feral goats watches us.
Actual Boat Dives from Exmouth took me to "The Labrynth" and Blizzard Ridge. That is where both operations will take you. They save the unique places for the locals. Both places had limestone shelf reef with lots of crevices. The reef was mostly dead, but I have never seen so many fish. Fish were EVERYWHERE!!! Also a few turtles and some really weird curly lace coral that looks like it came righ out of Dr. Suiss. The water was a warm 28 C.
If you are there in Feb, you might be around to see the turtles hatching. Also don't miss sitting on a bean-bag chair at the Outdoor Movie. I didn't have the funds to do it, but I hear the Navy Peir Dive is Magnificent.
Enjoy the West Coast.