Posts from Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo
-
Australia's Great Humpback Whale Migration
Each January, around 60,000 Humpback Whales leave the frigid, food-rich waters of Antarctica and begin the world's longest mammal migration, a 5,000-kilometre, three-month journey to the warm waters of northern Australia where they mate, calve, and nurture their newborns. Around 25,000 of these whales diverge around Tasmania and head up...
-
Top 4 Diving Destinations in Australia
For divers, Australia isn't just a destination—it's a dream. With coastlines touching three major oceans and thousands of miles of coral reefs, marine reserves, and rugged coastlines, there's no shortage of places to explore. Whether it's drifting alongside turtles, coming face-to-face with Great White Sharks, or discovering the hidden treasures...
-
12 Threatened Australian Species You Can See In the Wild
Australia is home to a remarkable array of wildlife, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. However, numerous species are currently facing critical threats and are classified as endangered. In this article, we explore some of Australia's most vulnerable creatures that you can observe in their natural habitats....
-
Tourism Meets Science: Four Ways Visitors Can Contribute to Research
As pressures increase from factors such as climate change, extreme weather events, urban or industrial development, plastics pollution and debris, it has never been more important for the tourism sector to unite with academic researchers to measure the impact of these pressures and the health of our ecosystems. Several tourism...
-
Top 5 Whale Watching Locations in Australia
Australia has become known as one of the world's best destinations for whale watching. With an enormous coastline spanning more than 34,000 kilometres (21,000 miles), combined with clean waters and sheltered bays, whale watching opportunities in Australia are plentiful. In addition to optimal whale watching conditions across the western, southern...
-
Storyteller Series: Debbie Ferguson from Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo
The first time Debbie Ferguson saw a whaleshark was on her honeymoon. She and husband Mark wanted something to remember their special occasion with, and the enormity of the gentle, spotted giant - a filter-feeder that bears a vacuum-like mouth filled with 300 tiny teeth - definitely fit the bill....
-
Swimming Alongside Humpback Whales with Corrine Matthews
Marine scientists say that the Humpback Whale call is one of the most complex animal sounds there is. “It’s a very beautiful and melancholy song and sounds a little like a door creaking or a violinist warming up,” spotter and snorkelling guide, Corrine Matthews, says. “Some days when we snorkel...
-
Sunset Wine and Whale Watching across Exmouth Gulf with Lindsay Sorensen
When holidaymakers visit the Ningaloo region for the first time, they often book tours of the Ningaloo Reef first, attracted to the open ocean and everything that it offers. But Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo scuba diving and snorkelling guide, Lindsay Sorensen, says that Exmouth Gulf is just as special....
-
Tracking Manta Rays with Amelia Armstrong
Manta Rays have been around for millions of years, and their reliable aggregations are an important part of Western Australia’s marine ecotourism offering. Yet, it was only discovered as recently as 2009 that there are two species of Manta Rays. Snorkelling with a Manta Ray on the Ningaloo Reef. Image:...
-
Capturing Ningaloo’s Majestic Underwater Landscapes with Chiara Bussini
Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo scuba diving and snorkelling guide, Chiara Bussini, believes that once you start taking photographs underwater it can easily turn into a life-long hobby. “I started with land-based photography over a decade ago, but now my main focus is taking photos underwater,” she says. “I moved...
-
Writing the Wildbook for Whale Sharks with Heather Kay
Ningaloo Reef is one of the best places in the world to swim with Whale Sharks, with hundreds congregating in the world- renowned marine park from March to early August. “I’m very fortunate to work in an area that has one of the highest interaction rates with Whale Sharks in...
-
Diving the Muiron Islands and Outer Reef with Mark Ferguson
For Mark Ferguson, co-founder and skipper of Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo, every day out in the water is a good day. “I learnt to dive when I was 24 and am in the water at every opportunity. I just love the sea and showing guests the underwater world,” Mark...
-
Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo: Our Story
As the region’s original eco-tourism operation, Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo is synonymous with experiencing the aquatic treasures of the World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef Marine Park. Debbie & Mark Ferguson have been involved taking ecotours around Western Australia for over 20 years, managing the operations of a number of...
-
Our Favourite Member Photographs: April 2020
Rainbow Lorikeet - Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours Image credit: Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours (via Facebook: @echidnawalkabout) Recommended tour: Great Ocean Road (3D/2N) Australian Sea-lions - Australian Coastal Safaris Image credit: Australian Coastal Safaris (via Facebook: @auscoastsafaris) Featured tour: Port Lincoln Wildlife Encounters (2D/2N) Common Wombat - The Maria Island Walk...
-
Our Favourite Member Photographs: March 2020
Killer Whale - Naturaliste Charters Image credit: Naturaliste Charters (via Facebook: @bremercanyonkillerwhaleexpeditions) Recommended tour: Bremer Canyon Killer Whale Expedition Eastern Grey Kangaroos - Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours Image credit: Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours (via Facebook: @echidnawalkabout) Recommended tour: Great Ocean Road (3D/2N) Emus - Australian Coastal Safaris Image credit: Australian...
-
Our Favourite Member Photographs: February 2020
Kangaroo Island Kangaroo - Exceptional Kangaroo Island Image credit: Exceptional Kangaroo Island (via Facebook: @exceptionalkangarooisland) Exceptional Kangaroo Island came across a couple of local Kangaroo Islanders who seemed to be getting into the spirit of Valentine's Day! Recommended tour: Kangaroo Island In Style (2D/1N) Killer Whale - Naturaliste Charters Image...
-
Our Favourite Member Photographs: November 2019
Life on the Reef - Exmouth Dive and Whalesharks Ningaloo Image credit: Exmouth Dive and Whalesharks Ningaloo (via Facebook: @exmouthdiveandwhalesharksningaloo) The Ningaloo Reef provides magical marine encounters throughout the year! Recommended tour: Deluxe Whaleshark Swim (full day) - available from March 4 until August 31, 2020. Figbird with Young -...
-
Our Favourite Member Photographs: October 2019
Red-bellied Pademelons - The Maria Island Walk Image credit: The Maria Island Walk (via Facebook: @mariaislandwalk) Extinct on mainland Australia, these cute creatures are widespread in Tasmania and Maria Island! Recommended tour: The Maria Island Walk - available until April 30, 2020. Whale Shark - Exmouth Dive and Whalesharks Ningaloo...
-
Q&A With Guides: Mark & Debbie Ferguson
In our latest Q&A with Guides, we chat with not one, but two guides! Husband-and-wife team, Mark & Debbie Ferguson, own and operate Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo, the region's original eco-tourism operation. Mark and Debbie have been involved in Western Australian marine ecotourism for over 20 years. How long...
-
Our Favourite Member Photographs: September 2019
Rainbow Lorikeet - Australian Coastal Safaris Image credit: Australian Coastal Safaris (via Facebook: @auscoastsafaris) South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula region is home to a diverse range of birds, none more stunning than the Rainbow Lorikeet! Featured tour: Port Lincoln Wildlife Encounters (2D/2N) Common Wombat - The Maria Island Walk Image credit: ...
-
Our Favourite Member Photographs: July 2019
Grey-headed Flying-fox - Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours Image credit: Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours (via Instagram: @echidnawalkabout_) The Grey-headed Flying-fox is one of many wildlife sightings available in the East Gippsland region of Victoria. Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours offer multiple tours which visit this region. Recommended tour: East Gippsland Wildlife Journey...
-
Our Favourite Member Photographs: May 2019
Buffalo - Lords Safaris Image credit: Lords Safaris (via Facebook: @lordssafarisnt) Lords Safaris encountered some Buffalo out on the Mary River floodplain, north of Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. These tours are conducted using airboats, which offer great access to a diverse range of wildlife including Saltwater Crocodiles,...
-
Species Feature: Green Turtle
The Green Turtle is one of the world’s largest sea turtles. At an average length of 1.2 m (4 ft) and weight of 225 kg (500 lbs), they are second in size to the Leatherback Turtle. These turtles are herbivores, feeding on sea grasses, algae and other marine plant matter....
-
Our Favourite Member Photographs: April 2019
Here are some amazing April images across the Australian Wildlife Journey group! Flinders Ranges Sunrise - Arkaba Conservancy Image credit: Brooke Saward (via Instagram: @worldwanderlust) The Flinders Ranges region of South Australia is famous for its stunning landscapes as well as it's wildlife diversity. As part of the Arkaba Walk...
-
Our Favourite Member Photographs: March 2019
Take a look at some of our favourite posts from our members in March 2019: Short-beaked Echidna - The Maria Island Walk The Short-beaked Echidna is found across Australia, including Tasmania and surrounding islands. A tour group completing the Maria Island Walk recently came across this one who was taking...
-
Species Feature: Whale Shark
Growing to lengths of up to 12 metres, the Whale Shark is the world’s largest fish! Their mouths can grow to widths of 1.5 metres too! Harmless to humans, these gigantic fish eat plankton and small fish by drawing water through their gills. In Autumn each year at the Ningaloo...
-
Australia's Most Amazing Aquatic Adventures
Australia is surrounded by water brimming with a vast variation of marine species and home to a large number of creeks and rivers that coil their way around the vast land. There is no other country in the world where – if you wanted to – you could can swim...
-
Incredible White Whale Humpback Swim at Ningaloo!
Guests on the Humpback Whale Swim Tour with Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo experienced an unexpected and extremely unique encounter with a White Humpback Whale and its mama this week!! Only four white whales have ever been spotted off Australian waters. Our lucky customers and the crew were absolutely blown...
-
Our Favourite Marine Species at Ningaloo
In March and April each year, the coral colonies on Ningaloo Reef spawn, exploding billions of tiny eggs into the water column and triggering a massive food chain event that lasts until September. The microscopic coral larvae attract baitfish that mass in huge shimmering balls, which in turn attract bigger...
-
Four Incredible Places to Spot Baby Whales around Australia
As whale watching Australia goes, it doesn’t get much better than observing a mother interacting with her calf, particularly Humpback Whales, which are known as the showmen (and women!) of the whale world. From humpies to orcas, here are four incredible places to spot baby whales around Australia before they’re...
-
Tips to See More Wildlife Next Snorkelling Trip
Strapping on a mask and snorkel and slipping into the ocean on Ningaloo Reef is like passing through a portal into another world. “The feeling of weightlessness and experiencing the incredible richness of sea life feels like a different dimension,” says Mark Ferguson, owner, with his wife, Debbie, of Exmouth...
-
Sensational Seal and Dolphin Photos this Winter
Winter is a fantastic time to spot marine mammals across Australia including dolphins and seals. Two of the most common species of dolphin found around Australia are the Bottlenose and Short-beaked Common Dolphin. Did you know that dolphins fall into the toothed whale category and can live well into their...
-
Ningaloo Turtle Program Update
The breeding season has commenced for turtles across the beautiful Ningaloo coast. This is a critical area for nesting, with three of the world’s seven marine turtle species selecting these beaches to lay eggs from November to March. The staff at Exmouth Dive & Whaleshark Ningaloo are proud to be ...
-
Swimming That Makes Your Soul Sparkle
Ningaloo Reef is an incredibly diverse fringing reef system on Western Australia coast line. After a romantic full moon in March or April, the corals feeling the love on Ningaloo, release their eggs and sperm into the water column to carry out reproductive behaviour known as coral spawning. This coral-love-making...