Snorkel or dive with resident reef mantas at Ningaloo Reef off Coral Bay in Western Australia, one of the few places to see them all year. Daily manta tours from Coral Bay glide over the cleaning stations of this World Heritage fringing reef, where the rays are almost always found circling for a clean. They are here year-round, with the biggest numbers from May to November.

Reef Manta Ray in Coral Bay / Ningaloo Reef (Western Australia)

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About This Spot

Snorkel or dive with resident reef mantas at Ningaloo Reef off Coral Bay in Western Australia, one of the few places to see them all year. Daily manta tours from Coral Bay glide over the cleaning stations of this World Heritage fringing reef, where the rays are almost always found circling for a clean. They are here year-round, with the biggest numbers from May to November.

Best Months to Visit

Up to 88% sighting chance in Coral Bay / Ningaloo Reef (Western Australia). Best months: June, July, August.

  • June: 88%
  • July: 88%
  • August: 87%
  • May: 86%
  • September: 84%
  • April: 83%
  • October: 80%
  • March: 79%
  • November: 78%
  • January: 76%
  • February: 76%
  • December: 75%

Practical Information

  • Location: Coral Bay / Ningaloo Reef (Western Australia)
  • Country: Australia
  • Coordinates: -23.1400, 113.7700
  • Effort: day trip
  • Accessibility: Medium
  • Observation mode: Diving, Snorkeling

Frequently Asked Questions

When can you see mantas at Ningaloo?

Year-round off Coral Bay, thanks to a resident population, with the largest aggregations from May to November.

How do the tours work?

Daily boat tours from Coral Bay use spotter planes to find mantas at their cleaning stations, then drop snorkellers and divers nearby.

What else might you see?

Whale sharks from March to August, humpback whales in winter, turtles and reef sharks along the same coast.

Is it good for snorkellers?

Yes, mantas often cruise the shallow lagoon, so snorkellers get excellent encounters, not just divers.

Other Spots for Reef Manta Ray

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