Explore Exmouth

Exmouth, in Western Australia, is the gateway to Australia’s iconic Ningaloo Reef as well as the incredible swim-throughs and caverns of the Muiron Islands and flourishing reefs along the Coral Coast. Within Ningaloo Marine Park, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, divers can explore an aquatic wonderland of megafauna including dolphins, dugongs, manta rays, whale sharks and humpback whales. Those who prefer to search for the ‘small stuff’ will delight in finding frogfish, nudibranch, and stonefish close to Exmouth.

Scuba diving in Exmouth is accessible from the few dive centres and dive resorts in the area but if you intend to venture further into WA diving hop on visiting liveaboards to the area.

Dive Activity

Diving in Exmouth

At the Muiron Islands, there’s a large range of swim-throughs, channels, and caverns while at certain times it is possible to drift dive between the two Muiron Islands. Along with most of the sites found while scuba diving in Exmouth, the maximum depth is 20 metres and gentle currents. Ningaloo Reef sites range from 15-20 metres, with a number of sites ideal for dive courses. At Ningaloo, divers can explore caves, rocky ledges, and coral gardens or search for macro critters at the Navy Pier.

Dive Sites

The best months to dive in Exmouth

While much of Australia is too cold to dive in the winter, Exmouth experiences sunshine, blue skies and pleasant water temperatures meaning that Exmouth diving is available all-year-round. The season for whale sharks in Ningaloo is from March through to August while manta rays and humpback whales visit the area from June to November. Scuba diving the Muiron Islands is also available year-round, with the best visibility from September to November.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Exmouth

Scuba diving in Exmouth will find divers encountering dolphins, manta rays, sea turtles, humpback whales, dugongs, and wobbegong sharks at Ningaloo Reef while the North and South Muiron Islands also host countless species of marine life. Shrimps, nudibranch, friendly potato cod, sea turtles, nurse sharks all reside in soft coral gardens among the 1000’s of darting colourful reef fish. At shallow sand flats, nudibranch, flatworms, frogfishes, scorpions fishes and stone fishes can be discovered by macro-enthusiasts. For those who want to capture the extraordinary marine life in Exmouth on camera, speciality dive courses are available from some Exmouth dive centres.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

233 Sightings
J
19
F
4
M
16
A
15
M
24
J
27
J
31
A
23
S
17
O
11
N
20
D
26

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

158 Sightings
J
11
F
4
M
13
A
8
M
13
J
20
J
14
A
13
S
16
O
14
N
14
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

127 Sightings
J
6
F
1
M
10
A
8
M
20
J
13
J
20
A
11
S
14
O
6
N
8
D
10
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

96 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
6
A
6
M
15
J
16
J
19
A
3
S
4
O
8
N
7
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

88 Sightings
J
5
F
0
M
11
A
4
M
10
J
8
J
8
A
7
S
10
O
7
N
9
D
9
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle

30 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
13
J
7
J
8
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
Humpback Whale

Humpback Whale

24 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
8
A
9
S
4
O
2
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Sand Tiger Shark

Sand Tiger Shark

22 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
2
J
2
A
4
S
4
O
6
N
0
D
2
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray

9 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
0
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
4
D
0
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

288 Sightings
J
10
F
3
M
21
A
16
M
33
J
33
J
41
A
30
S
21
O
27
N
27
D
26
Wobbegong

Wobbegong

264 Sightings
J
12
F
5
M
19
A
11
M
28
J
28
J
38
A
30
S
23
O
22
N
22
D
26

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

237 Sightings
J
13
F
4
M
14
A
17
M
34
J
26
J
29
A
22
S
19
O
14
N
23
D
22

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

220 Sightings
J
15
F
7
M
10
A
16
M
23
J
29
J
29
A
18
S
23
O
14
N
19
D
17

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

195 Sightings
J
16
F
2
M
13
A
10
M
28
J
20
J
17
A
17
S
17
O
15
N
21
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

176 Sightings
J
11
F
2
M
15
A
9
M
27
J
16
J
22
A
14
S
15
O
12
N
18
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

143 Sightings
J
14
F
2
M
13
A
5
M
19
J
15
J
16
A
14
S
10
O
10
N
13
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

141 Sightings
J
9
F
2
M
8
A
12
M
18
J
11
J
19
A
13
S
11
O
12
N
8
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2

Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark

128 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
2
A
1
M
5
J
16
J
14
A
25
S
26
O
18
N
12
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

118 Sightings
J
11
F
2
M
11
A
6
M
11
J
11
J
16
A
12
S
9
O
6
N
11
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

113 Sightings
J
8
F
1
M
4
A
6
M
20
J
8
J
17
A
5
S
12
O
8
N
12
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

110 Sightings
J
10
F
1
M
5
A
4
M
16
J
10
J
10
A
13
S
9
O
7
N
16
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

108 Sightings
J
7
F
3
M
10
A
4
M
14
J
12
J
6
A
8
S
12
O
5
N
12
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

106 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
9
A
5
M
16
J
9
J
8
A
9
S
7
O
8
N
17
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

88 Sightings
J
8
F
0
M
3
A
6
M
10
J
10
J
10
A
7
S
5
O
9
N
11
D
9
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

69 Sightings
J
5
F
2
M
3
A
6
M
8
J
13
J
7
A
4
S
0
O
7
N
3
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

66 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
2
A
3
M
9
J
8
J
13
A
11
S
5
O
2
N
5
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

66 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
3
A
4
M
10
J
6
J
5
A
9
S
7
O
5
N
3
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

65 Sightings
J
7
F
0
M
6
A
4
M
12
J
4
J
7
A
2
S
7
O
1
N
8
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

54 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
8
A
0
M
8
J
1
J
4
A
7
S
6
O
5
N
5
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

53 Sightings
J
6
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
10
J
4
J
10
A
6
S
4
O
6
N
0
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

52 Sightings
J
4
F
1
M
4
A
0
M
7
J
5
J
3
A
6
S
6
O
4
N
7
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

48 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
4
A
0
M
7
J
6
J
5
A
4
S
5
O
2
N
5
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

41 Sightings
J
5
F
1
M
6
A
3
M
4
J
6
J
4
A
2
S
7
O
0
N
0
D
3
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark

39 Sightings
J
4
F
1
M
0
A
4
M
1
J
5
J
5
A
2
S
4
O
4
N
5
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

38 Sightings
J
6
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
4
J
4
J
0
A
5
S
4
O
5
N
6
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 22

Cod

Cod

35 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
5
M
6
J
6
J
2
A
3
S
3
O
3
N
3
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 50

Frogfish

Frogfish

31 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
3
J
3
J
8
A
0
S
4
O
0
N
0
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

29 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
0
A
4
M
2
J
3
J
4
A
3
S
2
O
5
N
0
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

Garfish

24 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
3
J
4
J
7
A
0
S
5
O
0
N
0
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

22 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
9
J
2
J
1
A
6
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Cornetfish

Cornetfish

18 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
5
A
0
M
0
J
5
J
0
A
4
S
2
O
2
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

17 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
2
A
0
M
2
J
0
J
5
A
0
S
4
O
0
N
0
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

16 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
0
J
2
A
2
S
2
O
0
N
5
D
0
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark

15 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
1
M
4
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
2
N
0
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

9 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
5
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

9 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
3
J
2
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
2