Coral Bay Expedition May 2027

Coral Bay Expeditions
May 2027

Dates: All girls trip 8-15th || Mixed Trip 15th-22nd

A week in the most underrated ocean destination, designed and hosted by a local

Hidden along the remote coastline of Western Australia lies a place truly like no other— Coral Bay, the heart of the Ningaloo Reef. The Ningaloo Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage listed site since 2011 and is the largest fringing reef in the world. The tiny town of Coral Bay is located on the most coral dense and concentrated section of the entire 260km-long reef system. It is a true marine megafauna hotspot, where an incredible diversity of bucket-list species can be encountered in some of the most breathtaking ocean scenes on Earth (sometimes all in one day!).

Across all my travels, I have never found anywhere that compares to Coral Bay. The sheer abundance of life, the scale of the encounters, and the fact that you can experience so much in a single day is something truly special. It’s a place that is difficult to put into words—you simply have to experience it for yourself. That unmatched magic is exactly why I’ve chosen to call it home over five seasons, dedicating a large chunk of my life to photographing it, and now, I’m incredibly excited to bring a small group of ocean lovers into my backyard for a week in paradise.

This trip is the first of its kind—a group expedition to Coral Bay designed and hosted by a local who knows this reef inside and out. With years of experience exploring this reef, photographing it and working on the ocean tours I've developed an intimate understanding of the seasonal marine life patterns. This trip has been carefully and intentionally designed around the species and encounters that make Coral Bay so extraordinary.

Due to high interest, there are two seperate trip options for May 2027; a girls only trip from the 8th-15th and a mixed gender trip from the 15th-22nd. So either grab your ocean sister, your adventure buddy, your partner—or just pack your bags and come solo. Whichever crew you choose, there’s a spot for you!

Join me in the true remote oasis that is Coral Bay, for an unforgettable week of magical marine life, bucket-list moments, and unreal scenes you’ll be talking about for years to come. Come and see for yourself why Coral Bay remains my favourite place on Earth.

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About this Expedition

Cost: $2700 AUD ($1935 USD)

Deposit: $600 AUD to secure your spot

Dates: All Girls Trip 8-15th May 2027

Mixed Trip 15th-22nd May 2027

Inclusions

7 nights dorm style accomodation (upgrade available at extra cost)
1x dedicated whale shark/ outer reef full day tour (includes lunch and snacks)
1x dedicated manta ray/ inner reef full day tour (includes lunch and snacks)
2x exclusive marine megafauna encounter full day tours (includes lunch and snacks)
Airport Transfer (from Learmonth Airport to Coral Bay)
Sunset Catamaran cruise
Photography workshop
Marine life education talks
National park fees
Professional photography package

Focus species during the May Trips are Whale sharks, Manta Rays and Tiger sharks.

*Marine life sightings can not guaranteed due to the unpredictable nature of wild animals*

Itinerary

Daily itinerary/ activities are not fixed to specific days and kept flexible to optimise weather conditions and marine life sightings during our stay.

Whale Shark/ Outer Reef Full Day Tour

One of our four tour days we will be on a dedicated Whale shark (locally known as Gujawari) tour, dedicated to locating and swimming with the gentle giant on everyone's bucket list. The Ningaloo Reef hosts up to 500 individual whale sharks a year thanks to the Leeuwin Current. The Leeuwin Current is actually the world's longest continuous coastal current and it functions as a massive, warm-water conveyor belt that completely transforms the climate and marine environment of the region, creating nutrient supply for Whale sharks through its structural interaction with the coast.

This tour includes the hiring of a small local wildlife spotter plane to maximise searching areas, efficiency and opportunity. The whale shark tour day isn't just about the spotty fish. We’ll venture into the open ocean, where the reef drops away and anything could be passing through. This is where the unexpected can happen, with the possibility of encountering everything from spinner dolphins and manta rays to bait balls, sharks, whales and other pelagic species. Every trip beyond the reef brings a sense of anticipation—you never quite know what might be waiting out there. There are also two seperate visits to world class snorkelling sites during the tour.

I have planned the dates of this trip within May due to its calmer weather trends, making it the best opportunity to explore the outer reef sections and maximise megafauna sightings. Ethical practices and strong interaction regulations will be carried out to ensure the best experience for both you and of the marine life we find.

Manta Ray/ Inner Reef Full Day Tour

Another day we will be on a dedicated manta ray full day tour where we will obviously focus on locating and swimming with Manta Rays but also exploring the inner reef system for other megafauna, tiger sharks in specific. Due to the unique topography of Coral Bay's reef section and the large 4-5km gap, a special tidal pulse is present which hosts the resident coastal reef manta ray population. This population of a usually transient species is so dependable on this routine nutrient abundance, that encountering them in this area happens most days. However, their display of behaviours and the specific sighting areas within the bay differs from day to day.

The dates of this trip was also intentionally timed with the water temperature preferences for the tiger sharks, maximising our possibility to swim with one of the most misunderstood species in the ocean. Due to its healthy turtle populations, the Ningaloo Reef has a matched population of Tiger sharks. Coral Bay sees mostly mature females residing in the area with some male visitors from time to time. This tour is with the only tour operator in town that not only seeks to find these beautiful apex predators but also allows guests to swim with them. The operator has extensive knowledge of the species and many years of experience researching and interacting with them, therefore knows how to create safe, respectful and unforgettable encounters with these magnificent animals, helping eradicate stereotypical fear. There are also two seperate visits to world class snorkelling sites during the tour.

This tour also includes the hire of the local marine life spotter plane, therefore the marine life encounters are not limited to the two focus species mentioned. The operator I have chosen is also known for being an incredible marine life spotter, passionate in finding and delivering as many encounters as he can.

Exclusive Marine Megafauna Encounter Full Day Tours

Two of our four tour days will be spent on special completely exclusive, full day marine megafauna encounter tours. With our small group of just 10 ocean frothers, we will have the entire boat to ourselves, giving us the freedom to shape each day around the conditions, marine life activity and opportunities that present themselves.

Unlike a traditional tour with a set itinerary and predetermined marine life check list, these day are designed around exploration and maximising megafauna encounters. With no fixed route to follow, we can venture further, explore remote sections of the Ningaloo Reef, visit lesser-known sites and spend more time in areas searching for different marine species. The aim is simple: to maximise our opportunities for meaningful encounters with the incredible megafauna that call Ningaloo home.

With the entire boat exclusively to our group, we can be flexible with where we go and how we spend our time in the water. If a particular area is producing sightings, we can stay and explore it. If conditions suggest something more exciting is happening elsewhere, we have the freedom to move on. This flexibility creates a very different experience from a conventional tour and gives us the opportunity to cease encounters rather than simply follow an itinerary.

Most importantly, these days are not focused on one particular species. We can search for and encounter a huge variety of marine megafauna, from manta rays, tiger sharks, hammerhead sharks, leopard sharks and rays to turtles, bait balls and other incredible reef visitors that can be sighted at this time in the season. With the exception of marine mammals that require specific permits, the possibilities are intentionally left wide open.

This is a rare opportunity to experience Ningaloo without being confined to the usual tour structure — to venture into more remote areas, discover new sites and actively search for whatever incredible marine life the day decides to offer.

As with all wildlife encounters, sightings can never be guaranteed due to the unpredictable nature of wild animals. What we can guarantee is the freedom to explore, the time to look and a full day dedicated to finding some of Ningaloo’s most extraordinary marine life.

Sunset Catamaran Cruise

Aimed to be scheduled for our greeting or farewell evening, we will set off for a sunset catamaran cruise tour. This tour will take us out into the bay to experience the Coral Bay's ocean scenes during golden hour. The skipper will be on the lookout for any marine life such as dolphins or sharks while we relax. A delicious cheese board will be provided with the option for us to bring our own choice of beverages. The cruise ends as the sun sets, giving us the best front row seats.

Day Off Activities

With four out of our five full days in Coral Bay being spent on full day boat tours, our day off acts as a well earned rest day. However there are still plenty of activities for those that feel up to it. If you are certified, feel free to book a scuba diving day to see the reef from a different perspective. There are also lots of other different additional tour options such as quad bike tours, trips to five fingers reef and glass bottom boat tours. If you are wanting a cheaper and more chill day off, you can explore the town, main beach area and venture down to the shark sanctuary area. Our day off will also most likely be when I host the photography workshop depending on how everyone is feeling.

Why you should join me on this trip

A week in paradise packed with ocean adventure is all planned for you so you just get to book, relax and enjoy
All marine life interactions will be ethical and following strict regulations to ensure no disturbance
Budget friendly
Hosted by someone local to the area allowing for extensive knowledge to be integrated into the trip planning to ensure best possible encounters/ experience
Unique opportunity to join special exclusive marine megafauna tours (not usually open to the public)
The most experienced, science backed and passionate reef guides in town
Small group
The trip is the perfect blend between destination travel and photography expedition
The opportunity to meet like minded ocean lovers and make new lifelong friendships
I have a total of 8+ years experience in marine life/ snorkel guiding and am a Marine and Wildlife biologist
Only $600 AUD deposit required to secure your spot!!

Requirements

You are 18-35 years of age at the time of the trip
Confident swimming abilities
Keen to have your mind blown

If the Ningaloo Reef has been calling your name, consider this your sign to finally answer. Come escape to the remote paradise of Coral Bay for a week of unreal reef scenes, bucket-list encounters and more marine life than you can imagine. This isn’t just an epic ocean trip, it's your chance to authentically experience the most underrated marine hotspot through the eyes of someone who has dedicated a large chunk of her life to photographing its wonders.

Pick your trip and click the link to secure your spot before it's too late!