Meet the site
Swimming with manta rays is Coral Bay's signature activity. The town's waters hold Western Australia's largest population of reef manta rays, seen year-round, and tour boats head north towards Bateman Bay and the outer reef where a spotter plane locates feeding or cruising mantas. Snorkellers are dropped ahead of the animals and swim alongside; when plankton is thick, mantas barrel-roll and feed in formation just below the surface.
Tours typically last 5–6 hours, include lunch, and add other stops such as snorkelling over reef sharks at a cleaning station and a turtle sanctuary area; sea snakes and dolphins are also common. Tours carry divers and snorkellers together on some operators. It suits anyone comfortable snorkelling in open water.
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. Typical depth is around 0 m. Access is by boat only, and site selection depends on wind, swell and tide on the day. Best season: Year-round (mantas year-round; whale sharks March–July; humpbacks July–October). Traffic: very popular (dived daily).
What you might see
Reef manta rays, reef sharks, turtles, sea snakes, dolphins; humpbacks and whale sharks in season
Location
Snorkel encounters with reef manta rays located by spotter plane off Bateman Bay and the outer reef north of Coral Bay.
Facilities nearby
Coral Bay boat ramp 2 km south of town; town has toilets, showers, cafés, caravan parks and a dive shop with air fills.
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
curiouscampers.com.auningalooreefdive.comzubludiving.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.