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From mid-March to mid-May each year visitors from all around the world converge
on Ningaloo for the experience of a lifetime diving with the awesome whale
shark, the worlds biggest species of fish. Ningaloo Reef is the only easily
accessible place in the world where these giants appear in large numbers at
predictable times of the year. Whale sharks reach more than 12 metres long and
weigh more than eleven tonnes. You do not even have to be a scuba diver to swim
with these massive animals, as they swim close to the surface. Check out the
NatureBase site for
some images of the magnificent whale sharks. Exmouth or Coral Bay are also
perfect places to view the mass coral spawning, a three day event that begins a
week or so after the full moon during March and April. Each night, many species
of coral simultaneously release millions of bright pink egg and sperm bundles,
which float to the surface of the water, creating a floating slick of coral
spawn.
Ningaloo Marine Park is about 1,200 km north of Perth. The
park stretches for some 260 km, from Bundegi Reef in Exmouth Gulf
around North-West Cape to Amherst Point, south of Coral Bay. The
park extends about 10 nautical miles out to sea. One of the most exciting and
rewarding experiences is to swim with
whale sharks.
These huge yet gentle creatures visit Ningaloo Reef, off the north-west coast of
Western Australia, between March/April and June/July each year. Their appearance
has resulted in the development of an increasingly popular, seasonal ecotourism
industry. The Department of Conservation and Land Management is responsible for
the conservation and management of Western Australias wildlife, lands, waters
and resources for the benefit of present and future generations, which includes
the whale sharks. Visit NatureBase website for more information, about
Swimming with Whale Sharks
Source: NatureBase,
Department of Conservation and Land Management
For Ningaloo accommodation
click here.
For further information visit the CALM website or contact the
following: |
