From whale sharks to sea lions, Western Australia’s otherworldly marine life is an invitation to adventure.

Feature by: Carolyn Beasley

From the shoreline, Ningaloo Reef (Nyinggulu) appears still, just a sea breeze rippling the aquamarine, postcard serenity. But peeking below the surface is to enter another realm, one that swirls in perpetual motion, a pulsating ecosystem of turtles and currents, plankton and whale sharks, corals and tides.  

While Ningaloo Reef might be the most obvious place to find wonderous marine life, Western Australia’s relatively undisturbed coastline extends for thousands of kilometres. From the warm tropics of the north west to the cool temperate south west, the ocean beckons and adventurers answer the call. 

For many of these adventurers, it’s hard to go past Ningaloo, a place of fantastical giants. Too heavy for the land and all its gravity, in the warm Indian Ocean they soar with the grace of eagles. From April to July (and often until October), whale sharks cruise the surface, filtering clouds of plankton. The first glimpse of the biggest fish in the sea is utterly surreal, and as you fin along beside the spotty behemoth, licensed operators like Live Ningaloo ensure the experience is both ethical and safe.

^{Whale Shark, Ningaloo Marine Park}

From August to October, mother humpback whales breach the surface, followed by their splashy, goofy, supersized babies. If whale conditions are suitable, lucky swimmers on licensed tour boats like Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim may join the humpbacks in the deep, witnessing their underwater flight and hearing their haunting melodies.

Rather than migrating, manta rays reside at Ningaloo all year, and Coral Bay is a particular hotspot. Take the plunge with Coral Bay Ecotours for your chance to admire their four-metre wing span and the astonishing grace of their elegant ballet.

Beyond the megafauna, there’s wonder in miniature, too. Step off the beach with mask and snorkel to spot tiny Christmas tree worms extending bright yellow feeding plumes. See blind shrimps digging burrows for their watchman goby fish, and alien-like octopuses shape-shifting into impossible crevices.

^{Kayaking with Exmouth Adventure Company}

For those that prefer to be above water, take in the coral gardens with Ningaloo Glass Bottom Boat, or try kayaking with Exmouth Adventure Company, where sea turtle sightings are almost inevitable.

While Ningaloo Reef is spectacular, Western Australia’s vast coastline offers many diverse, salty experiences.

Although the shy dugong can also be spotted around Ningaloo, Unesco World Heritage-listed Shark Bay (Gutharraguda) is a stronghold for the species. Here, where rusty dunes meet turquoise ocean, Perfect Nature Cruises runs wildlife tours under sail, creating just the kind of quiet that dugongs appreciate.

^{A curious sea lion - Turquoise Safaris, Jurien Bay}

Further south in Jurien Bay, rare Australian sealions often greet the tour boats of Turquoise Safaris or Jurien Bay Oceanic Experience. Once swimmers are in the water, these ‘puppies of the sea’ may spiral in for a close inspection, hoping for some playful antics from the strange land creatures entering their world.

Closer to Perth (Boorloo), Perth Wildlife Encounters runs ethical dolphin tours from Rockingham. Like the sealions, these wild bottlenose dolphins choose to interact with humans, motivated only by their entertainment. Wet-suited guests simply hover on the surface, coming eye to eye with the curious dolphins as they zip past.

In nearby Mandurah (Mandjoogoordap), Mandurah Cruises offers a drier cetacean experience. Journey into the heart of sparkling Mandjar Bay, home to around 100 wild dolphins and catch your breath as these marine acrobats leap for joy beside the boat.

^{Busselton Jetty, Australia's South West}

Another dry experience is found in Busselton (Undalup). Busselton Jetty is the longest timber-piled jetty in the southern hemisphere, and eight metres below the surface, the Underwater Observatory is a window into a secret world. Fluffy soft corals attached to pylons billow in gentle currents, while hula fish dance, and stripy old wife fish weave between the structures.

Perhaps nature’s rawest experience is found off Bremer Bay on the rugged southern coastline. Here, between January and April, Naturaliste Charters and Whale Watch Western Australia journey more than 60 kilometres offshore to the deep sea Bremer Canyon, seeking the largest aggregation of orcas (killer whales) in the southern hemisphere. Sometimes guests even witness the grisly reality of a predation, as the monochrome apex hunters take down another whale. These nutrient-rich waters also harbour blue whales, sperm whales, pilot whales, beaked whales, dolphins, seals, sunfish and albatrosses, making it one of the planet’s most fascinating marine biodiversity hotspots.

From north to south, Western Australia’s extraordinary coastline is the gateway to a hidden world of astonishing life. It invites adventurers to come, get salty and discover the wonder. All you need to do is dive in. 

Published in February 2026.