Full-Day Manta, Dive Or Snorkel

Seven to seven and a half hour small-group manta ray day from Coral Bay with a buffet lunch on board and the option to dive or snorkel.

Overview

This Coral Bay day trip packs a lot into roughly seven to seven and a half hours: two reef dives or snorkels, a manta ray search with a spotter plane overhead, and a buffet lunch on board. The day runs from Ningaloo Reef Dive & Snorkel at Shop 8, Coral Bay Arcade, meeting at 8:00am and returning around 3:30pm. Hotel pickup is not included.

The shape of the day is straightforward. Guests kit out at the shop, ride the bus to the jetty, then enter the water at two different sites on the world heritage listed Ningaloo Reef, where tropical fish, turtles, sharks and coral structures are all possibilities. Between the two reef stops the boat heads into Bateman Bay, a sandy bottom bay, and a spotter plane goes up to look for mantas. If rays are found, there is a chance to snorkel with them before lunch, followed by one final in-water session on the reef.

Both snorkellers and certified divers are catered for, with a PADI dive master or instructor leading the day and all snorkelling equipment supplied. Diving carries an extra cost. Reviewers repeatedly describe the day as well organised, with attentive guides and strong marine life sightings.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check in at the shopMeet at Ningaloo Reef Dive & Snorkel, Shop 8, Coral Bay Arcade, Robinson St, at 8:00am and get fitted with all equipment for the day.
2. Bus to the jettyThe group travels by bus from the dive shop down to the jetty to board the boat.
3. First reef snorkel or diveEnter the water at the first of two Ningaloo Reef sites, with tropical fish, possible turtles and sharks, and coral structures to explore.
4. Manta ray searchCruise into Bateman Bay while a spotter plane scans for manta rays from above. If mantas are located, there is an opportunity to snorkel with them.
5. Buffet lunch on boardWhile the crew prepares lunch, the boat cruises the bay looking for other marine animals, then a buffet-style lunch is served, with dietary requirements accommodated if advised in advance.
6. Final in-water sessionReturn to the Ningaloo Reef for the last dive or snorkel of the day.
7. Return to the shopHead back to the jetty by boat and finish the day at the shop, arriving around 3:30pm.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most from this day before booking.

• Bring the basics. The listing asks for a hat, swimwear, towel, camera, snacks, sunscreen and water. One reviewer noted the day can feel very cold on the water, so extra warmth is worth thinking about, and the crew offered an extra layer and a hood when asked.
• Diving costs extra. Snorkelling equipment is included, but diving carries an additional charge on top of the tour price. Dive sites range from 4 to 12 metres deep with an average of 6 to 8 metres, and dives run 45 to 50 minutes with visibility of 10 to 15 metres.
• Conditions vary. Water temperature ranges from 20C to 26C, and full length 5mm wetsuits are provided for divers. One reviewer found the water cold and suggested a thicker suit, while another mentioned strong currents and choppy seas that made holding position in the water harder. These are open sea conditions the crew cannot control.
• Group feel. The maximum group size for dives is 8, and reviewers often mention a friendly, attentive crew and a well organised day. Several travellers said the guides were knowledgeable about the marine environment and looked after everyone in the water.
• Food is covered. A buffet lunch is served on board, plus morning tea, afternoon tea and light refreshments. Dietary requirements can be accommodated if advised before the day.
• Manta sightings are likely but not guaranteed. The tour uses a spotter plane to locate mantas, though sightings are never guaranteed. The manta swim is described as an opportunity, so sightings depend on the day.

Common issues. The honest limits are mostly about the sea itself. One reviewer found the water very cold and would have preferred a thicker wetsuit, and mentioned limited covered space on the boat to escape the wind. Another noted strong currents and deeper mantas in choppy conditions that made staying in place difficult. Some travellers on the platform also felt the in-water briefings and guidance could be clearer. Manta sightings are an opportunity rather than a guarantee, and diving carries an extra cost on top of the tour price.

Choosing A Tour