Ningaloo or Great Barrier Reef: a personal choice
November 13th, 2007 by Jane
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.”
Tags: Adventure Travel, dive, Ecotourism, great barrier reef, ningaloo reef, Snorkel
Posted in Adventure Travel, Ecotourism, Scuba, Snorkel. Permalink for this post: permalink.
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February 16th, 2008 at 1:09 am
so what do you think personaly about the great barrier reef becuase you have given some good reasons why you like ningaloo but i would like to know your personaly view on the great barrier reef
April 19th, 2008 at 9:43 am
HI Jamie; I haven’t personally been to the Barrier Reef - but from the feedback I get from many divers is the biggest comparison is the distance to the reef.
It can take a couple of hours to get out to the Barrier Reef; however as the Ningaloo Reef is the worlds 2nd largest fringing reef we have minimal travel time which appeals to many people; typically speaking we’re in the water within 10 minutes of leaving the mooring.
A large majority of people say they prefer the NIngaloo; however this could be for a diverse range of reasons.
Hope this helps!
Kat