Luxury Manta Cruise, Gourmet Lunch

Seven-hour manta ray cruise from Exmouth and Coral Bay with complimentary pickup and a gourmet lunch; sightings are not guaranteed. Only 6 reviews.

Overview

About 1.5 hours by road from Exmouth to Coral Bay, with pickup on the way for anyone already staying there. Once at the jetty, guests board a custom electric vessel that glides through the water with very little noise, and a light continental breakfast is served during the ride out.

The first half of the day is built around snorkelling. The crew selects several sites, which can include coral gardens, fish-filled bommies, and turtle cleaning stations, with a morning tea break after the first swim. Then a spotter aircraft joins the effort, scanning the reef for manta rays. If mantas are found, in-water guides brief everyone and lead small groups into the ocean for a swim beside them. A freshly prepared gourmet lunch follows on board, and the afternoon may bring a second snorkel or time drifting through the sheltered lagoon, watching for dolphins, dugongs, reef sharks, turtles, and, in season, humpback whales. The trip home comes with a complimentary beer, sparkling wine, or soft drink.

It suits confident snorkellers of most ages who are comfortable in open water, and who want wildlife, food, and a quiet vessel in one long day.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Pickup from ExmouthComplimentary pickup is included from Exmouth, with hotel pickup arranged as detailed at booking.
2. Coral Bay pickupTravellers already in Coral Bay are collected on the way to the jetty.
3. Drive to Coral BayA scenic 1.5-hour journey from Exmouth to Coral Bay.
4. Board the electric vesselStep aboard a custom-designed, fully electric boat and cruise quietly into the southern Ningaloo Reef while a light continental breakfast is served.
5. First snorkel sessionSwim at carefully chosen sites such as coral gardens, bommies, and turtle cleaning stations, followed by morning tea.
6. Manta ray searchA spotter aircraft scans for wildlife. If manta rays are located, guides brief swimmers and lead them into the water. Sightings are not guaranteed.
7. Gourmet lunch on boardA freshly prepared gourmet lunch is served on the vessel.
8. Afternoon lagoon timeDepending on conditions, a second snorkel may be possible, or time to relax while exploring the sheltered lagoon and watching for dolphins, dugongs, reef sharks, turtles, and seasonal humpback whales.
9. Cruise home and drop-offGlide back in near silence with a complimentary beer, sparkling wine, or soft drink, then transfer back with drop-off included.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points worth knowing before booking this day out on the reef.

• Swimming fitness. The tour suits swimmers of most ages and experience levels, but participants must be comfortable swimming and using a snorkel in open water. This is a full seven-hour day with multiple water sessions, so reasonable stamina helps.
• Food and drink. Almost everything is covered: a light continental breakfast, morning tea, a gourmet lunch, afternoon tea, snacks, hot and cold beverages, and a complimentary beer, sparkling wine, or soft drink on the way home. Reviewers described the food as lovely and fresh, so there is little need to bring your own.
• Equipment. Snorkelling gear, wetsuits, and flotation aids are all provided. Full-face snorkel masks are not offered, so anyone who relies on one should plan accordingly.
• Photos. Professional photos of the day are included as a gift. Videography is not offered on any tours, so bring a camera for anything beyond stills.
• What to bring. The listing recommends sunglasses, a hat, swimwear, a change of clothes, a towel, a camera, and a jacket. The jacket is worth packing for the boat ride home.
• Wildlife luck. Manta rays are wild animals and sightings are never guaranteed. That said, one reviewer described watching two mantas barrel rolling and playing for a long stretch, and another mentioned seeing reef sharks at a cleaning station while snorkelling.

Common issues. The honest caveats are the ones the operator states plainly. Manta sightings cannot be guaranteed because the rays are wild, and the tour is subject to both weather and minimum numbers; if it does not go ahead, the operator makes contact at least a full day in advance. Videography and full-face snorkel masks are not provided. The day is long and mostly water-based, so it is not a fit for anyone unable to swim confidently in open water, and the boat prohibits items like drones, fishing gear, oversize luggage, and non-folding wheelchairs or strollers.

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