Swimming with manta rays
Swimming with manta raysHover above the reef as a manta ray banks and barrel-rolls beneath you — one of Ningaloo's most graceful and dependable encounters.
Ningaloo has a large population of reef manta rays, and unlike the seasonal whale sharks they are present year-round — making this one of the reef’s most reliable big-animal snorkels. Each manta has a unique spot pattern on its underside that researchers use to tell individuals apart.
The encounter is gentle and safe: mantas are filter feeders with no barb or sting, and they often swim curiously toward snorkellers, somersaulting as they feed. A spotter locates the rays, then snorkellers drop in to watch them glide and loop below.
From Exmouth, mantas are frequently seen on whale shark and humpback tours; Coral Bay, further south, is the dedicated manta hot spot with a resident population and year-round tours.
When to go
Year-round on the reef; from the Exmouth side most abundant in the cooler months (~May–November), overlapping whale shark and humpback seasons.
See the full when-to-visit calendar →Experiences
How it works
- Mostly boat/tour-based. Dedicated manta tours run year-round from Coral Bay; from Exmouth mantas are usually a bonus on reef tours.
- Gentler than whale-shark swims — mantas often stay in one area, so less hard swimming. No certification needed.
More things to do
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