Coral Bay
Australia · Western Australia
Coral Bay sits at the southern end of Ningaloo Reef, one of the longest fringing reefs on Earth. The reef here begins just metres from the beach, making it extraordinary for snorkellers and divers alike. Manta rays cruise the shallows year-round, and whale sharks arrive each autumn. The water is warm, clear, and alive with colour — parrotfish, turtles, and reef sharks share the same sandy-bottomed lagoon. This is a place where the ocean is genuinely wild and genuinely close.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Live science signals for this reef are still being gathered.
Coral cover
Fish life
About what a healthy reef of its kind holds.
Heat
Fishing
Open to fishing, and the water is fairly quiet.
Sources · Reef Life Survey · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
What you will see
34 species across the dive sites here
Bluespotted Cornetfish
Seen 23 days ago
at The Labyrinth
Least concern
Reef Manta Ray
Seen 1 month ago
at Manta Bommie
Green Sea Turtle
Seen 1 month ago
at Five Fingers Reef
Least concern
Whitecheek Surgeonfish
Seen 1 month ago
at Manta Bommie
Least concern
Whitetip Reef Shark
Seen 1 month ago
at Manta Bommie
Vulnerable
Longfin Bannerfish
Seen 2 months ago
at Five Fingers Reef
Least concern
Giant Cuttlefish
Seen 5 months ago
at Skeleton Bay
Near threatened
Yellowtail Fusilier
Seen Aug 2024
at Manta Bommie
Least concern
Acropora Coral
Seen year round
at Skeleton Bay
Alcyonarian Soft Coral
Seen year round
at Manta Bommie
Australian Snapper
Seen year round
at Five Fingers Reef
Blackspot Wrasse
Seen year round
at Manta Bommie
Least concern
Bluefin Trevally
Seen year round
at Manta Bommie
Least concern
Brain Coral
Seen year round
at Manta Bommie
Least concern
Clownfish
Seen year round
at The Labyrinth
Least concern
Hard Coral (Acropora)
Seen year round
at The Labyrinth
Humphead Parrotfish
Seen year round
at The Labyrinth
Vulnerable
Leafy Sea Dragon
Seen year round
at Skeleton Bay
Least concern
Nudibranch (various species)
Seen year round
at Skeleton Bay
Octopus (Blue-ringed or Southern)
Seen year round
at Skeleton Bay
Ornate Ghost Pipefish
Seen year round
at The Labyrinth
Least concern
Pipefish (various species)
Seen year round
at Skeleton Bay
Sea Fan
Seen year round
at Five Fingers Reef
Seahorse (Short-snouted)
Seen year round
at Skeleton Bay
Least concern
Table Coral
Seen year round
at Five Fingers Reef
Endangered
Weedy Sea Dragon
Seen year round
at Skeleton Bay
Vulnerable
Blue-ringed Angelfish
Seasonal visitor
at Five Fingers Reef
Least concern
Bumphead Parrotfish
Seasonal visitor
at Five Fingers Reef
Vulnerable
Crown-of-Thorns Starfish
Seasonal visitor
at Five Fingers Reef
Cuttlefish
Seasonal visitor
at Skeleton Bay
Dusky Batfish
Seasonal visitor
at Manta Bommie
Least concern
Giant Clam
Seasonal visitor
at Manta Bommie
Critically endangered
Spotted Eagle Ray
Seasonal visitor
at Skeleton Bay
Endangered
Yellow-lipped Sea Krait
Seasonal visitor
at Five Fingers Reef
Least concern
Dive sites
Manta Bommie
reef manta ray · yellowtail fusilier · bluefin trevally · blackspot wrasse
Five Fingers Reef
green sea turtle · australian snapper · table coral · sea fan
Skeleton Bay
leafy sea dragon · weedy sea dragon · nudibranch (various species) · cuttlefish
The Labyrinth
whitetip reef shark · spotted eagle ray · bluespotted cornetfish · humphead parrotfish