Meet the site
Blue Holes is listed by Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim (whalesharks Exmouth) among west-side sites with caves, swim-throughs, huge bommies or walls, and diverse hard and soft corals. The name suggests deeper holes in the reef that appear blue from the surface.
Site-specific published detail is minimal. Holes in the outer reef typically concentrate fish and offer undercut walls and overhangs, with reef sharks, turtles and rays common. Treat depths as indicative.
About the west side: Ningaloo is a fringing reef, and the west side of North West Cape is where the reef faces the open ocean beyond the lagoon. Only a handful of boats dive it, launching from Tantabiddi, and much of it is rarely visited. Topography ranges from shallow cracked reef and ledges near Tantabiddi Passage to surge channels, bommies and walls further out, with 'caves, swim-throughs, huge bommies or walls, and a truly diverse range of hard and soft corals'. Whale sharks, mantas and humpback whales are seasonal visitors, and humpback song is commonly heard underwater in winter. The 2025 marine heatwave caused significant coral mortality in northern Ningaloo, so expect some dead or recovering coral. A typical west-side day combines two sites chosen by the skipper on the morning, with lunch on board inside the lagoon; because swell and wind decide everything, divers visiting Exmouth for a week should book early in their stay and keep a back-up day. The same boats often snorkel with whale sharks, mantas or humpbacks in season, so a west-side dive day can deliver megafauna on the way out or back.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Blue Holes (Ningaloo westside) is recorded as Reef in Ningaloo – Exmouth. The listed access is boat (day trip). Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is Blue Holes (Ningaloo westside) suitable for my certification?
The record lists Open Water. That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book Blue Holes (Ningaloo westside) through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Reef fish, reef sharks, turtles, rays, hard and soft corals
Location
West-side Ningaloo site named by Exmouth operators for its blue holes in the reef.
Facilities nearby
Tantabiddi boat ramp: toilets, car and trailer parking; no shade or fuel. Air fills and hire in Exmouth.
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
ningaloowhalesharks.comaussiemarineadventures.com.audiveningaloo.com.auwhalesharktours.com.auswandive.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.