Ningaloo
(Western Australia)
May 23-31, 2024
Join Us as we explore beautiful Ningaloo, Western Australia, the world's longest fringing reef and one of the best places on Earth to swim with whale sharks, manta rays and humpbacks.
The Ningaloo Reef in Australia’s North West is the world’s longest fringing reef system and offers some of the best opportunities for underwater photography anywhere in the world. The reef runs along the North West Cape, which is the closest point to where the western part of Australian continent meets the continental shelf.
The reef’s remoteness, the mixing of oceanic currents, and the strong protection it receives as one of the largest marine parks in Australia mean that it is one of the best places to encounter marine megafauna. Pilot Whales, Minke Whales, dolphins, dugongs, manta rays, orcas and other 'big' animals appear sporadically throughout May - anything can happen on Ningaloo Reef!
Trip Details
This trip is a land-based trip based in Exmouth, Australia. It is a combination trip of snorkeling (with the whale sharks) and diving in Ningaloo Reef and the surrounding area.
Planned Itinerary
Day 1 - Thurs. May 23rd - Domestic flight to Exmouth. Arrive and settle into Accommodation in Exmouth.
Day 2 - Fri. May 24th - Whale Shark Swim
Day 3 - Sat. May 25th - Muiron/Outer Reef: Diving (2 dives)
Day 4 - Sun. May 26th- Whale Shark Swim
Day 5 - Mon. May 27th - Cape Range National Park Tour (land-based day)
Day 6 - Tues. May 28th - Ningaloo Reef: Diving/Manta Rays (2 dives)
Day 7 - Wed. May 29th- Muiron/Outer Reef: Diving (2 dives)
Day 8 - Thurs. May 30th- Whale Shark Swim
Day 9 - Fri. May 31st - Check out of resort and catch domestic flights.
Getting to Western Australia
From North America, Europe, Asia:
Our hub for this trip is Exmouth, Australia. The closest international gateway is Perth, Australia. Other options include flying into Sydney or Melbourne. Once you arrive in Australia, you'll catch a domestic flight to Exmouth, Australia. The airport code for Exmouth is LEA.
Within Australia:
Domestic flights to Exmouth, WA from your home departure city.
Domestic flights: Currently there are a few flight options on Qantas:
Arrival May 23, 2024
QF 1602 PER-LEA 7am-9am
QF 1052 MEL-LEA 9:35am-12:30pm (Thur-Sun only)
Departure May 31, 2024
QF 1603 LEA-PER 1:55pm-3:45pm
QF 1503 LEA-MEL 1:20pm-7:35pm (Thu, Sun only)
Exclusions
International and domestic flights
Dinners (two) the nights we go to explore the local area i.e Whalebone Brewery and Adrift Cafe.
Breakfast. The rooms are self-contained apartments.
Cab/Uber rides around Exmouth or personal rental car
Transportation to/from Exmouth airport
Alcoholic drinks
Dive Insurance & Travel Insurance
Nitrox
Gratuities
Dates
May 23-31, 2024
Duration: 8 nights/ 9 days
Package Cost: Per Person in USD, various occupancy options below.
We'll be staying at the lovely Exmouth Escape Resort in Exmouth, WA, Australia. We'll be in the vlillas which consist of 2 bedrooms and a loft area. There is one master bedroom with a queen bed with attached bathroom, a second bedroom with a queen bed, and a loft with 2 single beds. There is a 2nd separate bathroom which will be shared with the second bedroom and loft guests. The villas can sleep up to 6 people. Each villa has a a gourmet kitchen, dining area, living area w/tv, and an outside patio area, as well as Internet and A/C throughout.
Villa Loft with single beds (double occupancy- 2ppl) $2690 USD per person
Villa Loft with single beds or one queen (single occupancy- 1 person) $2770 USD per person
Villa one bedroom with queen bed (double occupancy) $3100 USD per person
Villa one bedroom with queen bed (single occupancy) $3900 USD per person
Inclusions
6 dives at Ningaloo Reef and Muiron Reefs (snorkeling is also an option)
3 whale shark swims - bonus!
1 day touring Cape Range National Park includes fees
Snorkel with the manta rays between dives (opportunistic)
All scuba diving gear is included for the scuba dive days
High quality snorkel equipment and wetsuits (3mm & 5mm options) available for the whale shark swims
Dive (Instructors and Divemasters) and Snorkel guides
Private Vessel Charter for our group.
Complementary transfers from accommodation to the dive shop Exmouth.
6 Dinners at the delicious Whalers Restaurant - https://www.whalersrestaurant.com.au/
Fresh buffet lunch, drinks and snacks on vessel days
Morning and afternoon tea on vessel days
Presentations on marine wildlife – manta rays and whale sharks
Travel and explore with a marine biologist and a travel/educational expert
Photography and editing advice provided.
Max 20 guests including group leaders
Friendly, inclusive, and fun atmosphere with experienced group leaders Kim & Amanda.
How to Secure Your Spot:
Please note that this trip has limited spots, so you will need to get in quick to secure your booking. The following payments will be required:
$700 USD per person to secure your spot (due at booking)
2nd Deposit: 35% of package due November 10, 2023
Remaining balance due February 10, 2024
We will be in touch via e-mail to provide individual invoices and payment details. We would recommend purchasing your flights into Perth, Australia as soon as possible to secure reasonably priced flights.
To book and check for available spaces email: info@designedforscuba.com
Terms and Conditions
Designed for Scuba, LLC highly recommends you purchase travel and dive insurance as soon as possible after confirming your travel plans. We recommend Dive Assure or DAN for diving insurance. We recommend Dive Assure or DAN for diving insurance. Dive Assure offers a Dive and Travel Insurance annual and short-term (per trip). You can purchase it here: https://diveassure.com/en/home/?pid=18662
Evidence of adequate travel and dive insurance must be provided prior to departure.
Bookings made more than 100 days out from the start of a trip require a deposit of $800.00 USD per passenger in 2024 and a regular deposit schedule will commence in late 2024/early 2025.
All deposits are non-refundable.
Bookings made less than 100 days out from tour commencement require payment in full to secure your booking.
Payment in full is required 100 days out from the start of the trip. We will email you a final payment reminders. No refunds will be given within 100 days of the start of any trip, under any circumstances.
If you cancel your spot more than 100 days before the start of a trip, and we are able to resell/fill the spot, a trip credit for your remaining balance (minus a $300 USD service fee deducted) will be issued for use on another Designed for Scuba, LLC trip within 2 years of the cancellation.
If you cancel your spot less than 99 days prior to the start of a trip, no refund or credit will be issued for deposits that have been paid.
If our In-Country Providers cancel or if aForce Majeure Event occurs, meaning any act of God, war, terrorism, fire, flood or any other extreme weather conditions, loss of power, epidemics or pandemics, industrial disputes, slow-downs or other strike activities, riots or civil disturbances, acts of government, semi government or other authorities, inability to obtain any necessary license or consent and delays caused by sub-contractors, suppliers or other third parties (including telecommunications carriers), material shortages or other disruption to the trip beyond our control, Designed for Diving shall not be held responsible for matters outside of our control or any failure to deliver the trip.
The affiliated and established company such as Ningaloo Whale Shark N Dive, hold the relevant insurances and maintains responsibility for the dive and snorkel insurance policies and procedures. As such when in the water diving, snorkeling or swimming you are diving under the affiliated company's policies and procedures and must adhere to either the Captain, Dive Instructor or Divemaster’s instructions.
Designed for Scuba, LLC takes no responsibility for loss, damage or injury arising from any shortfall, error or omission in the information passed to the customer during the course of the sale or subsequent delivery of the product. The company takes no responsibility nor can be held liable for loss, damage, or injury that occurs on a supplier’s or service provider’s premises or transport, or between two such premises.
Participation in any of the Activities involves certain risks which may result in injury or death. This warning does not purport to describe or disclose all risks associated with participation of the Activities. There are a wide range of inherent risks when engaging in sports and particularly underwater sports; for example, with diving there is the risk of decompression sickness, embolism or other hyperbaric injury can occur that requires treatment in a recompression chamber. Open water scuba diving trips may be conducted at sites that are remote, either by time or distance, from emergency services or recompression facilities. Scuba diving, snorkeling and tours will involve uncontrolled encounters with wild animals which bears the risk of stings, bites, and at the extreme end, more serious injury and death. Participants should be responsible and aware of animal behaviors and their own interactions and engage in these activities entirely at their own risk.
We will not be liable to you in respect of any personal injury (including without limitation serious injury or death) that you may suffer or sustain directly or indirectly as a result of attending the Trip or participation in the Activities. Nor will we be liable to you in respect of any other losses arising as a result of any such personal injury (including without limitation loss of profit or earnings or other consequential losses). We will not be liable to you in respect of any of your personal property that is lost, stolen or damaged before, during or after a trip.
Please ensure you understand our cancellation policy prior to providing any deposits and agree to the booking and trip. By placing a booking with Designed for Scuba, LLC, this implies that you accept these booking terms and conditions and cancellation policy.
Entry Requirements for Australia
Most guests can enter Australia as a tourist for up to three months. Guests will need to apply for an ETA (Electornic Travel Authority) visa prior to departure, which is completed in the Australian ETA app: (Apple/iOS or Android). Please apply a few days prior to travel to ensure your visa is approved.
All COVID entry requirements have been dropped.