Frequently Asked Questions

It is very uncommon for guests aboard Shore Thing to get sea sick. Our tours are designed so that the vessel can remain inside and sail the sheltered confines of the reef and avoid unsettled conditions. The vessel itself is very large and wide, which provides great stability and therefore very few people get sea sick. Our crew are also well trained to assist guests avoid situations whereby they may feel ill. The vessel always anchors inside the reef at night in safe and calm conditions.

Whilst aboard Shore Thing we are NOT allowed to swim with Whale Sharks. There are strict conditions put in place by the Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) that apply to swimming with whale sharks. There are a limited number of day (snorkelling) tour operators that are able to offer this service from both Coral Bay and Exmouth. The team at Sail Ningaloo is more than happy to share their recommendations and is able to package a whale shark tour together with your experience aboard Shore Thing, please visit our Holiday Packages page.

As soon as you know what dates you wish to travel!! Cabins do fill up over 12 months in advance however in some cases we may have cabins still available a week before scheduled departure dates. School holiday periods in April, July and September are especially popular periods and we recommend booking well in advance for these periods as accommodation in Coral Bay and flights to Exmouth fill up very fast.

All meals, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks are included whilst aboard Shore Thing along with mask, fins, snorkel and wetsuits and towels. All you need to bring are personal toiletries (eco-friendly shampoo, conditioner & body wash provided), clothing,camera and battery charger along with a sense of adventure or a desire to relax and enjoy the very best Ningaloo has to offer. You may like to bring polarised sun glasses along to assist with viewing marine life from on board.

Alcohol is NOT included in the price of your tour aboard Shore Thing. A selection of reasonably priced West Australian wines, spirits and a range of beers are available for purchase onboard. You can pay for your alcohol purchases onboard with cash or credit card (please note additional charges apply for credit card purchases). If you have any special requests, please let us know at time of booking and we will do our best to accommodate.

Coral Bay is approximately 1200km from Perth. You can self-drive from Perth or any other destination as there is a sealed road servicing Coral Bay. Alternatively you can fly with Qantas airlines into Exmouth (Learmonth) everyday. Flights take 2 hours from Perth. Our tours are scheduled to depart and return to allow enough time to catch the afternoon flights.

If flying to Exmouth / Learmonth you can get to Coral Bay via transfer bus, scenic flight, or hire car. Learmonth airport is 110km from Coral Bay and takes approximately 1hour and 15 minutes via bus or car. Sail Ningaloo is happy to assist in arranging transfers from Learmonth airport. *Please note transfers to Coral Bay must be booked in advance, they do not meet every flight.

Sail Ningaloo provides complimentary transfers from all Coral Bay accommodation to the Coral Bay jetty where you will board Shore Thing.

Please let us know at the time of booking if you wish to participate in diving activities. Sail Ningaloo provides tanks, weight belts, wetsuits, masks and fins. You will need to provide your own BCD, regulators and dive computer. Sail Ningaloo can assist in hiring this equipment should you require it. You will also need to bring you dive certification card.

Manta Rays can be seen all year round.

Humpback whales start to migrate north past Ningaloo from mid June. They can be seen regularly until the end of September, with highest numbers witnessed during July and August.

Dugongs can be seen all year round although they are shy animals and sightings can't be guaranteed. They are more common between March and June.

Whale Sharks can be seen from mid march onwards at Ningaloo and usually stay around the reef until about July. They are wild animals and every season is different so please take the time to discuss how the current season is going with your Sail Ningaloo consultant

Reef sharks can be seen all year round at Ningaloo Reef. They can be observed whilst snorkeling and scuba diving. Sightings peak during the summer months.

Marine Turtles can be seen all year round on Ningaloo Reef whilst snorkeling and scuba diving. From October through to February they nest on beaches all along the Ningaloo Reef.