ningaloo tours coral bay

Where the Outback meets the Reef

Coral coast tours, welcome to coral coast tours, our two amazing ways to discover the ningaloo coast.

Off Road Rush

Drive the ultimate fun machine over sand dunes, along white sandy beaches, outback tracks to discover breathtaking views over the Ningaloo Reef

What a way to explore the beautiful Ningaloo World Heritage Marine Park! A guided Southern Coastal Experience. Guests can choose to ride alone or grab a couple of friends to share the ride. Our Yamaha Waveriders can hold up to 3 persons. With two awesome tours to choose from:

Snorkeling option

Both our tours offer snorkeling option on the beautiful Ningaloo Reef

We provide: mask, snorkel, fins.

Beautifuls Coral

Bookings & Information Contact

We are situated in the arcade, on the right hand side of Food Works and in front of the Bakery.

Shop 11 Coral Bay Shopping Arcade

M: 0427 180 568

E: [email protected]

+ 61 (8) 9942 5885

SWIMMING WITH MANTA RAYS IN AUSTRALIA

Manta rays are one of the largest species of ray to inhabit the ocean and are truly amazing to encounter. Their pectoral fins have evolved into wide triangular ‘wings’, which they use to propel themselves smoothly through the open ocean. The species of manta ray that visits Coral Bay can have a wingspan of up to 4 metres.

Swimming with manta rays is not dangerous as manta rays do not share the stingray’s trait of a barbed tail or ‘stinger’ and are harmless to humans.

This full day action packed marine ecotour adventure includes wet suits and snorkel equipment, fantastic food (morning tea, full lunch and afternoon snacks), drinks (coffee, tea, milo and cordial).  

The highlight of this fantastic marine ecotour is the opportunity to swim with the awe inspiring manta ray, which the professional Eco tours staff will endeavour to deliver, in what has become almost a daily event in Coral Bay on the Ningaloo Reef. Why not embrace this opportunity to go snorkelling in Coral Bay with one of  the largest winged creatures that inhabit our ocean?  

Our Ultimate Wildlife Experience - an amazing day on board our state-of-the-art eco tour vessel, Kurni-Ku, with its large upper deck viewing area makes it perfect for observing the tropical reef and all of its inhabitants. On this six to seven hour adventure you have the opportunity to snorkel on the magnificent Ningaloo coral reef, seeing hundreds of types of reef fish and exciting aquatic life such as reef sharks, turtles, giant clams and octopus. The unique shallow draft allows us to get to the very best snorkelling sites that the spectacular Ningaloo Reef has to offer!

Other marine mammals that may be encountered but not snorkelled with due to strict conservation efforts might include dolphins, dugongs and humpback whales (seasonal).  

This tour in search of Manta Rays and other marine life is offered daily. While sightings cannot be guaranteed, research involvement allows us to expect to enjoy Manta Rays, Turtles and Reef sharks most days of the year.

Please advise if you do not want your image used from our tour on our social media.

We Provide: Lunch, morning and afternoon tea, all snorkel equipment including spring suits (shorty wetsuit), fresh drinking water, tea, coffee and toilet.

What you need to bring:   Towel, hat, sunscreen, swimsuit, water bottle, warm clothing.

Ecotour:  License K. Bailye HQ68969CB

A basic swimming ability is required to join this tour as a n interaction swimmer. This tour is recommended for experienced swimmers. For Child/Infant policy please check the Terms & Condition below.

Child passengers are defined as being an age of 6 years old to 16 years old. 17 year old passengers are defined as adults. Family prices refer to 2 adults and 2 children between 6 and 16 years old. Children 5 years and under at the time of tour are Free of Charge (FOC) EXCEPT when swimming with whale shark s, manta rays or humpback whales. In these cases, the child will be charged at child prices. All minors must be accompanied by parents or guardians AT ALL TIMES who are entirely responsible for their care. Children must n ot be left unattended by parents or guardians on any tour boat or whilst in the water at any time.

MARINE ECO SAFARI swim with Manta Rays

The best manta ray tours from coral bay ecotours.

We take our guests out on our eco-vessel all-year-round for manta ray tours. Coral Bay Ecotours ’ boat Kurni Ku is specifically designed for shallow water cruising and wildlife interactions and is run by our fully qualified team, who also give informative talks on the wildlife seen from the boat. Its name comes from the Yamatji languages of the Baiyungu people (the traditional Australian occupants of the beautiful Exmouth, Coral Bay and Ningaloo region) and means ‘to seek’, though you won’t have to look very hard to find something amazing. On top of this, our guests are often able to see many other inquisitive marine animals such as turtles, reef sharks, and dolphins on this tour.

INTERESTED IN TAKING A SWIM WITH MANTA RAYS?

With their mesmerising movement and curious nature, manta rays delight visitors every year. Coral Bay Ecotours’ manta ray tours are available on a near-daily basis, so why not book one and give yourself the experience of a lifetime? Otherwise, the manta ray is just one of the many stunning sea creatures Australia is lucky enough to host, and if you’re interested in any of our other packages like swimming with humpback whales or glass bottom boat tours , contact us through our website , email [email protected] , or call (8) 9942 5885.

'NgarrARI Yinhaya BaIyungu’

'this country is baiyungu'.

We invite you to see this country through the eyes of its first people. Journey with us along the road less travelled. Visit pristine beaches, untouched reefs, even a turtle nursery. Explore hidden locations along the Ningaloo coast with your Baiyungu guide. Discover culturally significant places and hear the stories connected to them. See a side of Ningaloo coast rarely experienced by visitors as we take you on a tagalong tour through this spectacular World Heritage Listed location.

Our Tagalong Tours

Coral Bay Tagalong

Coral Bay Sunset Tour

Exmouth Sunset & Sunrise Tour

Shell middens, tell of an ancient connection.

This stretch of coastline is gaining attention globally for more than its beauty and rich biodiversity. It is currently the location of some significant archaeolocical discoveries that are providing fascinating insights into the history of the region’s first people. Hazel, your guide, works as cultural advisor on number of important excavations and shares some of her unique insights on a visit to an ancient shell midden site.

Tour Highlights

Ancient Bones

Tell the story of ningaloo.

Materials found in rock shelters and caves on the Cape Range Peninsula indicate Aboriginal people have been living in the Ningaloo region for over 30,000 years. These sites provide some the oldest dated evidence of occupation in Australia. A Thylacine jawbone recovered from the coals of an ancient firepit, points to the continuous connection Aboriginal people have with the Ningaloo coastline.

Ningaloo Reef Whale Sharks

Swimming alongside the biggest fish in the world is simply an incredible encounter you will always remember

Our dedicated crew are passionate about the conservation and research of the mystical creatures of the deep with our aim being your safety first and your time spent in the water swimming with these beautiful creatures.

This full day tour starts at 7:20, meeting in the dive shop to check in and collect all your snorkelling equipment for the day – including a full length wetsuit! We then take a 5 minute drive down to the jetty on our new, air-conditioned buses where we then embark one of our two fit-for-purpose vessels, each with ample room on the covered main deck to comfortably sit, move around and sight see as we cruise out to the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef.

Our first stop on the water is a guided snorkel at a beautiful coral garden area on the reef where you get the chance to see up to 250 species of corals and such marine life as colourful fish, sea turtles, stingrays, octopus, cuttlefish, reef sharks, amongst many many others! Once everyone is back aboard you can indulge in some morning tea as we head outside the reef in search for a whale shark! The pilot of our dedicated spotter plane will coordinate directly with our skipper to get you in the best position possible to see a whale shark. If we find a whale shark, you will have a chance to get in the water and swim alongside them.

Once back inside the reef, a delicious buffet lunch will be served. While you enjoy your lunch, we will begin cruising back toward Coral Bay as we endeavour to find as much marine life in the water as possible for your sight-seeing pleasure. The Ningaloo is host to many incredible animals that you may get the chance to view from the boat on this tour, such as dolphins, dugongs, manta rays, sting rays, sharks and whales!

In the afternoon we will go for another snorkel at yet another beautiful reef location if time permits.

This tour generally returns to Coral Bay between 4:30pm – 5:30pm but this can vary depending on the conditions of the day.

9 Hours (approximately)

What is included

• All equipment rental, including a full-length wetsuit, included in price
• All parks fees included
• All staff are highly trained dive masters, instructors or bronze medallionists
• This tour includes a morning snorkel on a beautiful coral garden and an afternoon snorkel if time permits
• Our onboard photographer provides you the opportunity to purchase your whale shark experience via a dropbox link! The ideal way to keep your memories forever.

Additional Information

Please keep in mind that our dealing with wild animals in their natural environment are not predictable. Our commitment to you is that our crew will make every possible effort to ensure that you have the best experience possible, however we can not guarantee that we will see all or any of the wildlife mentioned.

Check out Coral Bays newest tour

Call today to book your Ningaloo Reef experience: 1800 197 194 or BOOK NOW

Luxurious Overnight Sailing Adventure at Ningaloo Reef

Professional boutique snorkeling and diving experience. discover the magic., snorkel & dive getaway, ningaloo escape, ningaloo reef glamping, humpback whale safari package, ningaloo whale shark wonder week, ultimate ningaloo, it was an awesome experience. the crew were amazing..

Trip of a life time!

Incredible experience

Felt privileged to have had a glimpse of something normally invisible to us city dwellers

Diving Ningaloo with the family

Sail ningaloo an experience of a lifetime.

Shore Thing is Sure thing

Bliss on the water

Ningaloo Reef

Reef sailing, snorkelling and diving tours aboard Shore Thing , a purpose built, Roger Hill designed and beautifully appointed live-aboard sailing catamaran, 51 feet in length and 27 feet in width.

Experience Ningaloo Reef

Dive into Ningaloo bliss aboard the luxurious sailing catamaran, Shore Thing. Explore vibrant coral teeming with life on breath-taking snorkelling and diving adventures. Relax on the spacious decks and unwind under starry skies, experiencing world-class comfort and eco-conscious exploration.

Join Sail Ningaloo, a fully accredited and award-winning operator, and discover the reef’s wonders responsibly. Our expertise and commitment to sustainability ensure an incredible experience that also protects this underwater paradise. More Information…

Luxury Sailing

Rest, unwind, and spoil yourself aboard Shore Thing, as you explore the extraordinary Ningaloo Reef, discovering remote reefs and dazzling underwater worlds. Savour freshly prepared gourmet meals served in the spacious saloon, or alfresco on the deck. Our expert crew provide personalised experiences for a maximum of 8 – 10 guests.

Book your unforgettable escape today!

Snorkelling & Diving

Experience the underwater magic of Ningaloo Reef, a World Heritage Site teeming with life. Ningaloo boasts a mind-boggling variety of fish, turtles, graceful manta rays, unusual critters and colourful coral formations, making every dive or snorkel an unforgettable adventure. Whilst cruising, encounter majestic humpback whales, playful dolphins and shy dugongs.

Ningaloo Reef awaits! Pack your sense of adventure and immerse yourself in a world of natural beauty beyond compare.

Voted the #1 snorkelling holiday destination in Australia by Australian Geographic

Our favourite spots

Join us in experiencing the very best Ningaloo has to offer. We not only visit some of the more well-known spots of Ningaloo Reef but we also visit some of the lesser-known spots that will blow your mind. Experience Ningaloo Reef in style. Book Now!

• Norwegian Bay
• The Fin Shipwreck
• Point Coates
• Holey Moley
• Chabjuwardoo Bay
• Stanley Pool
• Bateman Bay
• Maud's Landing
• Five Fingers Reef

Stay in the loop

Quick Links

• 1800 197 194
• +61 458 822 895
• [email protected]

We craft unforgettable journeys that deeply connect our guests with the wonders of nature. Through immersive experiences and engaging interactions, we foster understanding and appreciation for the reef environment whilst upholding the world’s highest standards for sustainable tourism.

All material ©2024 Sail Ningaloo | Designed & Developed by Dash Digital

Top 7 Coral Bay Tours: Unforgettable Experiences To Enjoy Everything The Ningaloo Has To Offer!

Coral Bay is a small town in Western Australia, famous for having the world-famous Ningaloo Reef on its coast. As such, most Coral Bay tours will involve sailing, snorkelling, and other water-based activities.

Here, you can swim with manta rays and turtles year-round. And, depending on the season, you can swim with whale sharks and/or humpback whales too.

No wonder why it’s such a popular tourist spot! It’s a little slice of paradise.

Regardless of which Coral Bay tour you choose, the key is to book it as soon as possible. There are very few tour operators there, so spots will fill quicker than usual.

With that said, here are our top 7 tours in Coral Bay. They range from snorkelling to quad biking, and everything in between:

Table of Contents

In a hurry here are the top 3 coral bay tours:, 7 best coral bay tours.

Coral Bay is an expensive town, as its economy is solely based on tourism. And some of these experiences aren’t cheap.

That’s why some of the tours included have the lowest price guarantee and a “reserve now, pay later” feature. That way, you can secure your spot for free and pay for it a few weeks before the tour date:

1) Whale Shark tour (full-day)

This tour is available during whale shark season – between March and September. It’s a full-day tour, lasting around 8 to 9 hours.

It’s one of the best tours in Coral Bay , as it shows everything this side of the reef has to offer.

Apart from the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of swimming with whale sharks in the outer reef, you’ll do a few snorkelling sessions at a few different sites.

You’ll be able to swim with all kinds of marine life – reef sharks, sea turtles, manta rays, and tonnes of colourful fish. What a way to scratch this bucket-list experience!

2) Humpback Whale tour (full-day)

If you’ll visit Coral Bay between June and October , don’t miss this opportunity! Much like whale sharks, humpback whales migrate through these coasts each year, and you can swim with them during your stay.

Now, some people just want to go whale watching, not so much swimming with these gentle giants. If that’s you, this tour operator also offers the opportunity to watch them from the boat.

3) Manta ray tour (full-day)

You can’t say you went to Coral Bay without swimming at least once with the graceful manta rays.

These are some of the permanent residents of the Ningaloo Reef . This tour will take you swimming with them in Bateman’s Bay, with the help of a spotter plane.

Your guides will also take you to the turtle sanctuary, where you can observe them swimming around the coral gardens.

4) Snorkelling tours of 1, 2, and 3 hours (swim with turtles!)

This operator offers snorkelling tours of different durations, which is perfect if you want to plan your own itinerary. You can string one of these snorkelling tours and other ones for a mindblowing Coral Bay visit.

As for these snorkelling tours, they are all in a glass-bottom boat. You’ll watch turtles swimming under you, hundreds of fish feeding, and all the wildlife that resides in this reef.

Apart from the expert commentary, the guides will also take you to one or two incredible snorkelling sites, depending on the duration of the tour. The snorkel equipment is included. Learn more about them here:

• 1-hour snorkelling tour .
• 2-hour snorkelling tour .
• 3-hour turtle eco-tour .

5) Snorkel and quad bike tour (2-3 hours)

In Coral Bay, you can combine the thrill of riding a quad bike on the beach with the peace of coral viewing in one tour.

This operator offers tours where you can drive a quad over the soft sands of Coral Bay, and then jump in the water to snorkel Five Finger Reef.

You can also choose to just drive on the beach. Or even better – have a sunset drive. You’ll get the adrenaline rush either way!

6) Cruise the Ningaloo Reef Tour (6 days)

True ocean lovers will want to take their Coral Bay visit to the next level, sleeping out in the sea for 5 nights in the catamaran “Shore Thing”.

This luxury, small-group tour starts and ends in Coral Bay. An expert guide will be aboard, all meals are included, and there’s also kayaking, snorkelling and scuba diving equipment. You’ll have everything to fully immerse yourself in the Ningaloo Reef (pun intended!)

You’ll be going from one snorkelling spot to the other, seeking out dolphins, dugongs, and whales. Not to mention watching the sun rise and set from the deck every day.

The experience ends with a manta ray tour and one final snorkel.

7) From Perth to Ningaloo Reef Tour (7 days)

For those who want to enjoy everything the Ningaloo Coast has to offer, but don’t want to waste energy planning, look no further.

This tour starts and ends in Perth and includes everything – transport, meals, accommodation, and an expert guide.

It will take you to all the main spots of this side of Western Australia, including:

• Kalbarri National Park (Nature’s Window, Kalbarri Skywalk , Z-Bend…).
• Monkey Mia.
• Eagle Bluff.
• Coral Bay (you’ll spend a full day here).
• Cape Range National Park .
• Turquoise Bay.

There will be tonnes of snorkelling and wildlife spotting. Plus, if you visit during humpback or whale shark season, you can do a megafauna tour during your visit to Exmouth !

Other things to do in Coral Bay

There are dozens of things to do in Coral Bay , most of them included in the tours above – i.e. scuba diving, snorkelling, swimming with whale sharks, humpback whales, manta rays, turtles…

And yes, most of these activities are paid. But there are many free things you can do here too! Like visiting the shark nursery, watching the turtles off Turtle Cliff, fishing, etc.

Keep reading: 10 fun and free things to do in Coral Bay

Whale shark and humpback whale seasons overlap in July . If you plan to visit in that month, there’s a really good chance you’ll see both of them! Now, tours to swim with these gentle giants are pricier in Coral Bay compared to Exmouth, but they’re worth every penny.

On that note, book all the tours you’d like to do as soon as you can. Coral Bay doesn’t have a wide variety of tour operators , meaning that spots will fill much faster compared to other tourist towns.

Also, we recommend stocking up before you go to Coral Bay. It’s a small village with some essential services, like a mini-mart, bakery, and post office, but not much else. And try bringing your drinking water too, you’ll be charged extra for it.

Did you know?

The Ningaloo Reef is a fringe reef, so it ‘fringes’ or abuts the beach. You can’t collect flora or fauna (including shells or coral).

Exmouth is another coastal town, just a 90-minute drive north of Coral Bay. There’s plenty to do there, including checking out the beautiful Cape Range National Park. Try to visit it if you can!

Learn More: 7 Awesome things to do in Exmouth

How many days should you spend in Coral Bay?

We recommend spending one or two days in Coral Bay. The town is small, so that’s plenty of time to snorkel and enjoy the surroundings.

In the best-case scenario, you can include this visit in your itinerary when visiting Exmouth .

What is the best time of year for Coral Bay?

The best time of year for Coral Bay is in winter, between June and August. The weather is amazing and it coincides with whale shark and humpback whale season.

However, accommodation prices tend to be higher. If you want to visit Coral Bay in a cheaper month, November may be your best bet.

Is Coral Bay or Exmouth better for snorkelling?

Coral Bay and Exmouth are both excellent for snorkelling, as these are on the coast of the Ningaloo Reef.

But if we had to choose, we’d pick Exmouth just because there are more beaches to snorkel from, compared to Coral Bay.

The bottom line

Coral Bay is a slice of paradise, with the Ningaloo Reef on its coastline. During your visit, you’ll get to snorkel its dense coral formations and see the wide variety of marine life that resides there.

There’s so much to do there, it will easily be the trip of a lifetime. But make sure to book ahead, regardless of which tours you want to do – spots fill very quickly!

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Hi! We’re Chris and Bec, the two adventure-lovers behind Salt and Charcoal. We quit our jobs in 2020, to pursue the lifestyle of travelling and working remotely. We chose to dive into the unknown and prioritise experiences over material things… and it was the best decision we ever made! Now, we support others to build their dream life one step at a time. Come say hi on our socials :)

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NINGALOO ADVENTURE AND MANTA RAY TOUR - HALF DAY

✦ Dive ✦ Snorkel or Observe

Quick Details

• User Ages: (Adult) Ages 16+ , (Child) Ages 5 - 15
• Hour Glass Duration: Half Day

Experience the unique opportunity to snorkel up close with our resident population of these amazing creatures with Ningaloo Reef Dive in Coral Bay, WA!

What is included.

✅ All of your equipment including full length or short wetsuits, mask/snorkel and fins (plus regulator, BCD, weights and tank if you are diving)

✅ Refreshments & snacks throughout your tour including tea, coffee, cordial and fresh drinking water

✅ Our prices include a certified PADI Dive Master or Instructor guiding you at the snorkel sites, our spotter plane used to search for the manta rays

About the tour

The half day tour meets at 8:00am and returns around 1:30pm. This tour begins in our dive shop where we provide you with all the gear you need such as mask, snorkel, fins, and a full length wetsuit for snorkeling as well as BCD, regulators if you are diving. We then head to the reef for our first in water activity, if you are snorkeling we will spend 40 minutes snorkeling the reef and if you are diving then you will have a guided dive of 45-50 minutes.

Once we have finished our first in water activity we will provide morning tea and head to the area where we typically find manta rays. At this point our spotter plane heads up in the air in search of one of our resident mantas! If the plane finds one, we will get the opportunity to snorkel with them! We will spend as much time as possible with the mantas and once finished we will slowly cruise around the bay in search of other wildlife we can spot from the boat. We will then head back to the jetty for approximately 1:30pm where our buses will take you back to town to finish the day.

Information for Divers

Our dive sites are beautiful coral reef dives that have a varied depth of 4m to 12m with our average depth being at 6-8m. As the Ningaloo Reef is a fringing reef, it is quite shallow all around but filled with spectacular coral structures and marine life. All of our dives are guided dives with maximum group sizes of 8, although we typically have smaller groups.

Our dives are 45-50 minutes long and the average visibility in Coral Bay is 10-15m but can vary depending on conditions. The water temperature varies from 20C up to 26C in the summer and we provide full length 5mm wetsuits for all divers.

Related Activities

• MOST POPULAR TOUR
• Hour Glass Full Day
• User (Adult) Ages 16+ , (Child) Ages 5 - 15

NINGALOO ADVENTURE AND MANTA RAY TOUR FULL DAY

This full day tour takes you around to the most spectacular locations! We take both divers and snorkelers together on board this day tour!

FULL DAY NINGALOO ADVENTURE TOUR

This full day experience will take you on a adventure exploring the spectacular diving and snorkeling locations on the world heritage listed Ningaloo Reef.

Into the Wild Blue ‘Under’

Diving is Worth Traveling For – Here Are the Best Places Worldwide to Sink In

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My obsession with the ocean started early, in the days when I was so little that my very tall father could hoist me on his shoulder and jump waves near the Santa Monica Pier. I learned to swim in the Pacific Ocean and added every stroke to my skills, swimming on teams for ten years.

But all along, I knew what I really wanted to do was scuba dive, as I avidly watched “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau” and dreamed of swimming with the sharks deep under the sea, while breathing slowly and easily using an oxygen tank. Life intervened and it took me until I was in my thirties to take the plunge, getting my Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Open Water certification in Australia at the still-vibrant Great Barrier Reef. And it turned out I was right, I absolutely adored it from my first submersion, immediately feeling the true zen of being at one within the ocean.

Today, more than 35 years and over 700 dives later, I’m ready to tell you my top places worth traveling to in order to go diving. Note: I am a warm-water diver, so don’t expect to see anywhere that your wetsuit needs to be more than 3mm thick!

Palau (Micronesia) Palau, the small island country in Micronesia, is the place to make No. 1 on your diving bucket list. With incredibly clear, clean (and protected) water that teems with sharks, sea turtles, Moray eels, manta rays and more, and legendary coral-rich dives like Blue Corner and the incredible Big Drop Off (the Ngemelis Wall, that descends to 1000 feet down), it is mind boggling. You can even do a dive with a Nautilus, brought up from the deep. Spend a week with the PADI five star center Sam’s Tours and you’ll be hooked on Palau. I’ve been there twice and had some of the most epic dives of my life there.

The Maldives Like Palau, the Maldives is a long trip from the USA, but well worth the 30-hour journey for pristine diving experiences. Land on Velaa Private Island for the ultimate Maldivian experience, staying in an overwater bungalow with butler service and indulging at this dreamy place. The diving here is first-rate (done from the resort’s private boat), as is the internationally influenced world-class cuisine and vast wine cellar/list. See manta rays, those huge, gentle sea creatures, as well as massive sea turtles, beautiful coral pinnacles and bommies, and, depending on the season, whale sharks and other breathtaking undersea creatures. It’s truly an amazing place.

1. Author Jenny Peters with a bull shark. (Romain Francios) 2. (Photo courtesy Tourism Fiji.) 3. (Photo courtesy of Jenny Peters) 4. (Photo by Jenny Peters)

Fiji and the Cousteau Legacy Fiji is definitely one of the world’s best dive spots, as Jean-Michel Cousteau (Jacques’ son) agrees. His eponymous Fiji resort is in a wonderful location to dive healthy reefs with the friendliest people on the planet. I actually went diving with Cousteau while there, making for a distinctly surreal experience for my inner 10-year-old self. Just recently, I discovered the spectacular new Waya Island Resort in the Yasawa island chain. Only 34 guests enjoy this secluded getaway, eating amazing food and hopping over by speedboat to Barefoot Kuata , where they make dives to see Fiji’s legendary bull sharks. That slightly insane, completely exhilarating dive is unparalleled, as bull sharks swim right at you, in a (somewhat) controlled underwater environment. It’s uniquely fantastic, especially if you love sharks as much as I do.

Turks and Caicos In the Caribbean region today, the all-too-common encroachment of high temperatures in the water is sadly causing a lot of coral bleaching. Happily, the 340 miles of the Turks and Caicos Barrier Reef has not been compromised and the diving remains incredible. I discovered this at Sailrock South Caicos , the luxurious secluded resort, where diving trips are intimate experiences handled by resort activities director Ben Zirin, who knows all the best dive spots. For a perfect diving day, see black-tip sharks, spotted eagle rays, sea turtles, stingrays, barracudas and more while swimming through colorful coral bommies, then wine and dine in style back at the sophisticated resort restaurant The Cove. More beautiful reefs await off Grace Bay and its 12-Mile Beach in Providenciales, so build in some bottom time there, too.

Mexico’s Sea of Cortez: Loreto and La Paz Jacques Cousteau once called Baja California’s Sea of Cortez “the world’s aquarium,” and he wasn’t kidding. This magical place truly teems with undersea life. In La Paz, northeast of and quite near Los Cabos, begin at the PADI five-star Cortez Club dive center with trips into protected waters to dive with hammerhead sharks, wildly playful sea lions, moray eels, sea turtles – and you might just see a marlin zoom by, too! Listen for humpback whales singing, as this is where they have their babies; and devote a day to snorkeling with whale sharks (no diving allowed). In Loreto, a more secluded lovely spot to the north, Dolphin Dive Baja whisks you out into the warm sea for dives at pristine reefs, shipwrecks and coral caves in waters that are filled with dolphins, those amazing mammals that just might say hello as you dive under this fabulous sea.

Egypt’s Red Sea Getting to the Red Sea in Egypt had long been a dream, and when I recently got there, it was extraordinary. I went far to the south, first to luxurious Soma Bay and then the truly remote Marsa Alam , both places offering unique diving opportunities at PADI-certified centers. Their massive house reefs are literally right out the door. Grab your dive buddy and tanks and in you go without an escort to see gorgeous neon-blue spotted stingrays, octopus, and huge schools of tropical fish and brilliant coral. Boats take you further, to dive with dolphins, into wrecks and to the famed Elphinstone, the subterranean mountain beloved by hammerhead and oceanic whitetip sharks. All this in the middle of the Bedouin-inhabited desert makes for a unique and intensely satisfying diving adventure.

Other Favorites Add French Polynesia’s Bora Bora and Rangiroa to your list if you love shark diving; and Belize to do its famed Blue Hole , a giant, empty hole that gives you bragging rights but not much to see on a very deep dive. Bali’s Nusa Penida Island has rocket-fast drift dives that are a blast; and seek out Hawaii’s best dive, the Cathedral , close to Lanai. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has suffered extensive coral bleaching but is still legendary and a must-do at least once. Try Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia for unspoiled, off-the-beaten-path beauty and great diving.

And ponder on what Jacques Cousteau once said as you go: “Man only has to sink beneath the surface and he is free.”

–Jenny Peters

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