Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth and Coral Bay - Western Australia's Coral Coast

Humpback Whales - Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth and Coral Bay

Humpback whales visit the Ningaloo Reef between July to November each year migrating twice annually through the Ningaloo Reef Marine Park into the Exmouth Gulf. The first visit occurs in autumn during their northern migration, and they return in their southern migration each spring

The migration of the humpback whales is fantastic sight. You can experience and observe this annual event in the Exmouth Gulf where "Whale Watching Tours" operate from Exmouth and Coral Bay. See the Tours sections.

Whales and their calves spend their time frolicking in the calm gulf waters between July and November. The waters of the Exmouth Gulf is an ideal location to see the Humpback Whales playing and nursing their calves after being born at the beginning of July. This is a event you can also watch from the beach but the whale watching tours gives you excellent photograph opportunities to see these majestic whales in their element.

A curious calf or adult whale may at times approach your tour boat, surfacing so they can get a good look at you and you appreciating the dimensions of this mammal that is the fifth largest of the great whales with its huge wing like flippers. Adult females grow to 19 metres, slightly longer than adult males. A mature humpback may weigh 40 tonnes.

Many of the Whale Watching Tours offer a chance to snorkel with the Manta Rays after spending time watching the Humpback Whales.

Naturally Ningaloo DVD contains footage collected over many years and countless hours in the water. It gives a good look into the underwater world of the Ningaloo Reef. The Ningaloo Reef is 260 km in length and contains over 200 different species of corals and 500 different species of fish.

Available from Ningaloo Reef Teach

ABove Photography by Paul Wags and Kelly Ritchie © Wags Dive at Ningaloo Reef Teach www.ningalooreefteach.com