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ImageExplore the reef by canoeSnapper feeding, Coral BayNingaloo Marine ParkPage 74 | australiascoralcoast.comWhale SharksThese gentle giants visit the NingalooMarine Park from mid March to mid Julyannually, following the mass spawningof coral at Ningaloo Reef. Several touroperators offer full day tours allowing youto swim with these amazing creatures.Whale sharks are the world’s largest fi shand can grow up to 18 metres in length.They are fi lter feeders and are thereforeharmless to humans. The NingalooMarine Park is considered one of themost reliable and easily accessible placeson earth to swim with these gentle giants.Manta RaysSwimming with manta rays is anunforgettable experience. Manta raysinhabit Coral Bay waters year roundand their inquisitive nature makes itfun to jump in the water and swimwith these harmless creatures. Unlikesting rays, manta rays have no barband are therefore safe to swim with. Itis spectacular to watch these beautifuland harmless creatures as they glideelegantly through the water. Manta raysoften have a wingspan of several metreswide.Whale WatchingIt’s not just whale sharks that visit CoralBay but the mighty humpback whaletoo! While you can’t swim with thesemarine giants, Coral Bay is an idealplace to view their annual migrationfrom June to November. Opportunitiesto see this spectacle are available fromthe sea and the air.TurtlesSwimming with manta rays at NingalooThe Ningaloo Marine Park is an importantbreeding ground for three of the world’sseven marine species, includingloggerhead, green and hawkesbill turtles.Loggerhead turtles come ashore to thesheltered beaches of Coral Bay to laytheir eggs during the summer months.In February and early March the turtleshatch and lucky visitors can watch themventure into the sea.Snapper FeedingVisitors can head down to Bill’s Bay dailyat 3:30pm to feed the schools of norwestsnapper that swim into shore. Be sure tobury your toes in the sand!Shark NurseryA 20-minute walk north of Bill’s Bay (pastthe boat mooring area) will bring you toSkeleton Bay. From October to Marchthe waters of the bay turn into a reefshark nursery. Watch as up to 200 reefsharks lurk in the shallow waters.NudibranchNudibranchs, casually known as ‘seaslugs’ are some of the most beautifuland diverse creatures in the ocean.The word “nudibranch” comes from theLatin word nudas meaning naked, andthe Greek word brankhia meaning gills.Ningaloo Reef is home to a plethora ofthese colourful, slow moving creatures.Despite their vivid colours, nudibranchare often well disguised, so look for themin shallow rock pools or grazing on thecoral reef.