Meet the site
Maud's Landing is the site of the original port for the Coral Bay district. The schooner Maud arrived in the 1880s and a town site reserve was declared in 1896; a 450 m jetty with a 30 m T-head, tramway, well and woolshed followed, and the port shipped wool, sheep and cattle until shipping ceased in 1947. The jetty was then dismantled and moved by the Northwest Whaling Company to Norwegian Bay.
Today the beach is a nesting ground for endangered green and loggerhead turtles (December to March) and is popular for beach fishing outside the sanctuary zone. No published dive description was found; the lagoon here has the same sand, seagrass and coral patches as Bill's Bay and may hold remnants of the jetty era.
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.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Maud's Landing is recorded as Shore/Rock Platform in Ningaloo – Coral Bay. The listed access is shore. 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
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 Maud's Landing suitable for my certification?
The record lists Snorkel/Any. 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 Maud's Landing 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
Green and loggerhead turtles, rays, lagoon reef fish, seagrass
Location
Historic port site about 3 km north of Coral Bay where a 450 m jetty operated until 1947; now a turtle-nesting beach.
Facilities nearby
None on site; Coral Bay town 3 km south.
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.wikipedia.orgen.wikivoyage.orgRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.