Meet the site
Bill's Bay is Coral Bay's front yard: a calm, sheltered lagoon where a thick blanket of coral gardens lies close to the main beach. Wikivoyage describes the bay as a protected green zone with impressive quality, variety and quantity of coral and marine life, where turtles, dolphins, mantas and reef sharks are common.
The bay suffered in March 2022, when a low-oxygen event following the coral spawn killed fish and damaged coral; recovery has been ongoing since. Snorkellers still find coral patches, reef fish, turtles and rays within an easy swim of the sand.
About Coral Bay: the town is a small resort settlement on Bill's Bay at the southern end of the Ningaloo Coast, about 150 km south of Exmouth. The outer reef lies close to shore, so both lagoon snorkels and outer-reef dives are short boat rides away, and Coral Bay is home to Western Australia's largest resident population of reef manta rays, seen year-round. Much of the water around town lies within the Maud Sanctuary Zone, where fishing and collecting are prohibited. Advanced divers favour the 'cuts', where open-ocean water funnels through gaps in the reef and brings in sharks, mantas and pelagics, while the calm lagoon suits training and beginners. The 2025 marine heatwave affected northern and central Ningaloo most; southern areas including Coral Bay sustained less damage, according to AIMS.
Planning notes: this is primarily a snorkelling site. Expect to spend most of the dive around 3 m, with a maximum of about 5 m. It is a shore-access site that can be visited independently when conditions suit. Best season: Year-round (mantas year-round; whale sharks March–July; humpbacks July–October). Traffic: very popular (dived daily).
What you might see
Coral gardens, reef fish, turtles, stingrays, reef sharks; dolphins and mantas occasionally
Location
Coral gardens a short swim off Coral Bay's main beach in Bill's Bay, within the Maud Sanctuary Zone.
Facilities nearby
Car parks, toilets, showers, cafés, gear hire in town.
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
en.wikivoyage.orgaussiemarineadventures.com.auningalooreefdive.comcoralbay.infoone-million-places.comRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.