We have had an exceptional start to the 2008 season. There have only been 2 days where we didn’t get to swim with a Whale Shark and that in comparison to most other April starts is fantastic!

Today we swam with 2 sharks, 1 was approx 3 1/2m and the other a little bigger at 4 1/2.

Some dear friends joined our tour today; Vix and Randall have worked in the dive industry up here for some years but are leaving town to move to the big city; Vix decided she wanted to have one last final Whale Shark spot; so went in and did it 4 1/2 months pregnant - so we have now taken claim to having the youngest child EVER swim with a shark lol.

We actually have a lot of pregnant women do the tour - they tell me it’s because they’re making the most of their freedom before having to care for someone around the clock - makes sense!~

“What a fantastic, AMAZING day! 7 snorkels with whale shark - an experience of a lifetime - Thankyou!” Karen and Dave Stratford, Geoff, Anne and Holly

YAY - it’s going off up here on the Ningaloo Reef. The Whale Sharks have been reliable for the most part of this season; out of 7 days they have been sighted every day; although there were 2 days where we were unable to swim with them; as they just didn’t want to know about us.

Tonight myself and our 2 gem spotters - Yoshi and Emily all attended the DEC (Dept of Environment and Conservation)
Whale Shark Interaction Guiding course.

In previous years I didn’t believe it would be necessary for me to attend as I work in the shop; but decided to support ‘the team’ and go this year. I am SO GLAD that I did; I learned so much!!

I have been doing this job for hmm well; this is my 5th season; and I love every second of it! I do wish I got to go on the boat more; but someone has to hold the office together :)

So the night was information packed; DID YOU KNOW that when the last lot of satelling tagging was done on the Whale Sharks; they were recorded going to gepths of 1500m; that is when the tags stopped working!!! How AMAZING is that??

And that big 18m shark that was killed in Taiwan years ago; the one with the 300 babies inside it at ALL DIFFERENT sizes of development; well a few of the babies who were at about 50cm in length were still alive; so they sent them to an underwater observatory in Japan!

Sad about the mother; but we would never have know that the Whale Sharks produce in such a way without the information being recorded.

There is so little known about many of the Whale Sharks characteristics; so I guess any information is useful!

Today we FINALLY got to swim with a Whale Shark! This is made even better that we had some REPEAT passengers on board who missed out on their first tour; thankfully we have the “No Sighting Policy” which meant they got to join us for another tour for FREE! They were ecstatic!

Today was another beautiful day on the reef; with magnificent snorkeling and glorious sunshine!

Again; we spotted a number of Whale Sharks but couldn’t get a swim on them; they were being very uncooperative!

As mentioned in my post yesterday; we rely on them swimming on the surface becasue they want to not becasue they have to; so there are naturally times when it is difficult to get a swim with them.

On a positive the day was magnificent and we had a BRILLIANT snorkel and swam with some turtles and lots of beautiful fish and still finished the day with a chilled glass of champers!

Although dissapointed by the sharks; everyone on board still had a joyful day; basking in the warm Ningaloo sun, swimming in our turquoise water which is still about 28 degrees!

No tour today - the crew are glad to be having a day off!~

After yesterdays fantastic Whale Shark Interaction; today has been especially dissapointing; we didn’t get to swim with a Whals Shark today.

The spotter plane saw quite a few but the sharks wouldn’t stay at the surface, whenever the boats got close to them - or one of our ’spotters’ jumped in the water; the sharks would dive.

Who knows why? There could be several reasons; however the fact that the Whale Shark is a fish and only comes to the surface to feed means we are relying on them to stay up for the swims.

Never mind I guess this is nature at it’s best; hopefully we’ll have better luck tomorrow!

WOW - What a fantastic start to the Whale Shark season in Exmouth, Western Australia~!

I am officially BANNED from the very first tour - history has proven that when I am on the first tour; we don’t see a shark - so I have been unanimously voted off the boat for the very first tour!

Today we swam with a gorgeous 3 and a half metre Whale Shark; who seemed to be as interested in us as we were in him. He turned often to check the punters out and circled the groups when they were in the water; thrilling our swimmers to no end!

We were also fortunate enough to see some majestic Manta Rays; unfortunately we couldn’t swim with them as they were too close the reef and it wasn’t safe, but they were fantastic to watch!

We have so many pre-bookings for April - with many days already completely booked out; so if you’re coming to swim with these unreal fish - best be booking ahead to secure your seat :)

Kat

The recent report on the increase in whale sharks at Ningaloo has brought a spotlight onto our beautiful piece of Australia and the unique ecotourism experience we offer.

Since publishing our post on the report, we’ve seen articles in all the major papers over here, and several scientific and environmental publications. The story was quickly picked up in the US, where reports have increased interest in the whale shark experience.

If you’ve experienced a whale shark tour with us and would like to share your experience with Americans who subscribe to the Discovery Channel’s News Blog, go to this link and submit a comment.

We know that ecotourism has contributed to the turnaround in whale shark numbers by raising awareness. So the more people who hear about and snorkel with these amazing creatures under the guidance of eco-accredited tour guides, the more likely they are to be respected and protected - not just here in Ningaloo, but around the world.

Conservationist and marine biologist Brad Norman has pointed to some good news about whale sharks in a new report revealing the results of a 12-year study.

There have been so many reports lately of the global population of whale sharks declining - and this still remains the case - but the great news for Ningaloo is that our whale sharks are thriving. As Brad puts it: “The study suggests that the management practices at Ningaloo are working for the whale shark.” Conservation is paying off.

All of this means you can come to Ningaloo and swim with the whale sharks with the confidence of knowing these stunning creatures are being protected - and that Brad is committed to making the knowledge gained at Ningaloo available to other parts of the world embarking on whale conservation projects.

Brad’s work with Ecocean has won him several awards, and the site is worth a browse for anyone interested in whale sharks.

You can also contribute your photos to Ecocean’s identification library - you never know, your whale shark may be one that no one else has yet photographed.

Last weekend we were proud to take away Silver in the 2007 WA Tourism Awards.

I often read and hear comparisons between the Great Barrier Reef and our own Ningaloo Reef. Some say the GBR can’t be beaten, others that Ningaloo is far superior.

So which offers the best experience?

Honestly - they are both fantastic, and both ‘musts’ for any adventure traveller, whether you’re a seasoned diver or inquisitive snorkeller.

But they are different, and if you have to choose, then the choice is purely personal.

Divers who have dived the GBR won’t rest until they’ve also dived Ningaloo which is considered the “next thing” - and many are frankly blown away by the experience. I have even heard some admit in hushed tones that actually, Ningaloo is right up there with the Great Barrier - I think the tones are hushed because they don’t want to be seen to insult a national icon.

Personally I love Ningaloo because it’s relatively undamaged by the trample of tourist fins. Hordes of overseas visitors have caused a lot of damage to the Great Barrier Reef, and here in Western Australia we hope to learn from this by focusing on ecotourism. We’re very protective of our beautiful reef and strict about educating everyone who ventures into the ocean about looking but not touching.

The reef is also very close to the shore, which means you can wade out to it with your snorkel when the mood takes you - no need to take a long boat trip. This appeals to a lot of independent travellers, who also love the relative uncrowdedness of the region.

Then there’s the light and colours, which are again quite different from the GBR. I’ll leave you with the words one writer chose to describe the Ningaloo shoreline in a recently published article:

“The sheltered shallow waters between the reef and the beach are crystal clear, and the white sand beneath shines through the bright blue, giving the beaches an incandescent quality.”

Take a look at these whale shark photos by William Thomas, a US fisherman who takes amazing pics!

Seeing the clear shot of a swimmer next to a 40-foot whale shark brings home the enormous gentle power of these animals. Easy to see why so many adventure travellers just have to do this!

We come across lots of whale shark photos and post the best of them. Send us yours!

The word is rapidly spreading around the world about the Ningaloo whale sharks, with recent Internet news coverage giving us a global spotlight.

When we were declared national winner of the PublicityShip Hidden Jewel Awards, we received a publicity campaign as part of our prize.

One of the results was dialogue with the travel editors of the global news site, www.about.com, who were interested to find out more about Ningaloo and the whale sharks.

We thought nothing more of it until yesterday, when we were alerted to this fantastic article!

We’re so delighted to see this kind of global internet coverage for our beautiful region and magnificent whale sharks. The word is rapidly spreading and what’s great about this is we don’t have to advertise. The message gets out there because people are genuinely fascinated by the experience of swimming with the biggest fish in the sea.

By the October school holidays we had already received lots of requests for Christmas gift vouchers for our Whale Shark Ecotours. We have fabulous gift vouchers - a great way to give someone a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

This also got me thinking about Christmas here in Exmouth.

The high temperatures can sometimes deter Australian visitors from coming to the area in December, but it’s actually my favourite time of the year - outside whale shark season of course. And Europeans love it at this time.

There’s no denying it’s hot! But we have beautiful days in or on the ocean, and stunning balmy nights perfect for unwinding with a chilled glass of wine.

There are heaps of turtles around too, as this is their breeding season. You can watch them mate and try to spot them laying their eggs - breathtaking.

So if you’re looking for a seriously relaxing Christmas holiday, Ningaloo’s a good choice, and we can help with accommodation suggestions. But if it’s the whale sharks you’re after, contact us for a gift voucher or to book ahead.

I just came across this delightful video. I feel sure these kids will remember this experience and that it will contribute to their inner psyche - helping to produce adults that care for our marine environment.

As a staunch supporter of ecotourism, I’d say that first-hand experience of the natural world needs to be added to the firing of children’s imaginations through art.

Here’s an interesting post from global warming specialist, Jane Genovese, which gives us real evidence from research showing the importance of a child’s early experiences in terms of their commitment to the environment.

Fascinating stuff.

Unfortunately, there are tour operators that won’t allow children to participate in interactive experiences because they are viewed as a liability - unpredictable in their responses with the potential to cause damage to the fragile environment.

While it’s essential that we protect our environment, children need to take part, with us adults taking responsibility for educating and monitoring them as they do so.

We encourage families to join our whale shark tour as a group. In fact our boat has been designed to make it easy for kids to hop in and out of the water, as the marlin board sits flush with the water. Even two-year-olds can join in - all the kids need is their own wetsuits as we only have adult sizes.

And if the kids paint their experience afterwards, we’d love to see the results!

How do you decide where to take your next holiday and the adventures you want to experience?

It’s fascinating to watch Internet activity - especially blogs - and see how real people spread the word around the world about their real travel experiences. I’d certainly be interested to know how you plan your holidays.

Gone are the days when tour operators like us relied totally on glossy brochures or even travel agents to sell our tours. Now our visitors are coming to us because they’ve browsed online and read about other people’s experiences.

I picked up this entry just this week, and is a great example of the potential power of real stories. If you read something like this when you were browsing for an adventure holiday, you’d probably sit up and take notice. Alex is right - swimming with manta rays is truly awesome.

And the great thing for us at Ningaloo is that almost 100 per cent of the stories we are seeing out there are not just positive but raving with enthusiasm! The fact is that Ningaloo sells itself. Once you’ve been and experienced it, you’ll want to tell the world about it - no exaggeration.

Coral Bay is a popular holiday spot for West Australians in winter, but many don’t realise how stunning it is in spring and summer, especially outside school holidays.

It’s just down the road (by Western Australian standards) from Exmouth - 152 km to be precise - and well worth the journey. Four-wheel-drivers can take a short cut via Yardie Creek for a day trip. Otherwise there’s plenty of accommodation, but do book ahead.

You can take a catamaran tour over the reef here for spectacular snorkelling, or just float out from the beach. But above all, this is one of the most relaxing places to really get away from it all. Just a short walk from the main beach gets you to some virtually empty bays of soft sand and lapping turquoise water.

Take a look at these holiday snaps on Flickr - these are the kind of pics that make you just long to be there. Taken by real people on a real Coral Bay holiday (in winter), they give you an honest view of the place - no touch-ups or professional tricks in these pics. And I can vouch for the colours being true.

By spring, the temperatures are warming up to a perfect 30 degrees, hovering around 24 degrees in winter and rising to around 37 degrees in the height of summer.

So if you decide to visit and need advice on accommodation and tours, get in touch with us.

Q: What’s one of the most romantic places you’ve visited and what makes that location so special?
A: (from Elle Macpherson) Ningaloo Reef, a virtually untouched area in Western Australia, a beautiful haven of clear, tropical waters an endless blue sky.
Taken from “Getting Intimate with Elle”

I already knew that Ningaloo is one of Elle’s favourite destinations. She used to fly in on an exclusive jet for some R & R with her family. We’d all find out about it well and truly after they’d gone. The locals around here aren’t too fussed by glamorous stars, although I reckon if the male population had of found out, there would have been an entourage of local boys finding their way down there. I wouldn’t have bothered… it would have been far too depressing; at 5′4 I would merely vanish in her presence :)

I participated in a safari tour from Exmouth one day - the tour operator was an old Exmouth Legend - Neil McLeod. He told us about when Elle came to Ningaloo to film some ads for Tourism WA. He walked us through the experience… Neil on a beach with Elle who is topless (yes, that’s right, topless!!) getting her tea. Every man on the tour was green with envy!

So why would Elle love it here so much? I guess for the same reason that so many of us get stuck here: the pristine turquoise waters, amazing marine life and the huge stretch of vacant sandy beaches. We have paradise at our back door. My trip around Australia started and finished with Exmouth. It is one of the most amazing places in Australia. From a backdrop of rugged red canyons to the glistening pristine water, with the creatures that occupy both earth and sea - truly amazing. There is ALWAYS something you will come across that will take your breath away!

So, as the latest Tourism WA ad campaign says, “Where the bloody hell are ya?” Get out to the Cape Range National Park for an experience of a lifetime!

Governor Zushan - Governor of the Zhejiang Province, Lu Zushan - has declared that whale sharks will officially be taken off their menu.

Woohoo!! This has come about due to Premier Alan Carpenter writing to Governor Zushan after media reports emerged that a 6m whale shark had been caught by Zhejiang fishermen and was to be sold for up to $8 per kilogram.

“In my letter, I explained to Governor Lu that the whale shark is much-loved by Western Australians and is one of our best tourist attractions,” Mr Carpenter said.

“I also said that the whale shark is a protected species in Australia, and requested that the Governor encourage Zhejiang fishers to join us in protecting this endangered animal.

“Significantly, Governor Lu has agreed to consider including the whale shark in Zhejiang province’s list of protected species. I am very pleased with this outcome and will closely monitor the Governor’s progress on this matter.”

Whale sharks have been slaughtered for many years - the Japanese call their meat ‘tofu fish’ because of its soft white texture. Thankfully, as the awareness of these magnificent animals increases, a majority of countries have ceased commercial fishing for the sharks.

One small but significant step for the whale sharks. Read more here.

Well of course I’m biased - I live on the Coral Coast and the Ningaloo Reef is my love, life and livelihood, so to me, Ningaloo is perfect all year round.

But for many people, spring is THE time to come. Temperatures are rising with daytime max averaging 30-36C. If this seems a little on the warm side, the reliable afternoon breezes come in every day to cool you down.

Then of course there’s the cooling effect of swimming and snorkelling over the stunning reef, which in places is just a few metres from the beach. Water temperatures are between 26 and 30C, cool enough to be refreshing, warm enough to save you from shivering.

If all this sounds appealing as a way to wind down after a winter in the city, I’d recommend the Ningaloo Reef Retreat. There are few more relaxing spots. It’s an ecologically sound, luxurious tented camp and right in the dunes just south of Turquoise Bay. And when I say ‘luxurious’, I mean real luxury camping with pine furniture, wooden floors, ensuite solar showers and hammocks on the front deck of your tent.

Whenever you feel like cooling off, you can just stroll down to the water’s edge, wade in and you’re there - hanging over the reef with a whole crowd of marine creatures darting around you. Guides at the camp can also take you out sea kayaking, help you find sea turtles, and direct you to the best walks in the gorges of the Cape Range National Park, just a few minutes away.

What also makes the Retreat interesting is the communal dining experience. The camp sleeps around a dozen guests, and most choose to join in together at the camp kitchen to cook and eat dinner outdoors by candlelight. Even the least sociable find themselves drawn into this wonderfully Australian atmosphere of mateship over a glass or two and an ocean sunset - a fabulous way to unwind.

True blue Aussies - or visitors wanting a real Australian camping experience - can even choose to sleep in a good old swag under the stars.

Contact us or the Retreat to find out more.