Tues 4 June – Coral Bay (whale sharks!)

Weather today looks great.  We’re on a full day tour to swim with the whale sharks.  We’re lucky to be here in the right season, April to July.  Twenty people on board the 57 foot boat, and five crew.
I’ve always been a bit of a tentative snorkeller; Clive has more experience.  I was very pleased at our first stop, snorkelling over the reef, in that I had no issues and went well.  Ningaloo Reef is very impressive – a huge variety of corals, turtle, reef sharks, sand groper, snapper, trumpeter, pipe fish, trevally, zebra fish, angel fish etc. etc.  There was heaps to see.
After the first snorkel, we headed North into the area where whale sharks have been found over the last few days.  On the way were treated to a fantastic display by a large pod of dolphins, including aerobatics.  Also a large sea snake on the surface.
Aided by a spotter plane, the boat stopped late morning at the first whale shark sighting and in we went, in two groups – masks and snorkels on before we hit the water.  No time to waste - straight in and off.  After sighting and approaching the whale shark front on, we decide whether to veer left or right and turn and swim with it.  At the point we’re loosing it, we re-group and wait to be picked up again by the boat.  No sooner than we’re out of the water (damned hard climbing up onto the marlin board in a hurry) and catching our breath than we’re on the back of the boat, masks and snorkels in place, ready to go again.  The second (or maybe third) time we went in the whale shark was very fast, and hard to keep up with. 
We had seven swims in all…. exhilarating but rather exhausting.  I sat out the sixth one – Clive snorkelled all seven.  (The previous day, the tour had only three opportunities.  We were extremely lucky, and exhausted, to have seven plus the two additional reef snorkels.)
We’d travelled around 70 km North, almost to the tip (North West Cape) to find the whale sharks.  Our trip back included a great lunch on board, and a last snorkel along the Ningaloo Reef. 
A fantastic day and one we’ll definitely remember.

20 June --- more photos now added below...

Clive

Clive again, in the deep.  (No way I can do this with a snorkel.)

Very friendly turtle

We all had to give this whale shark a rub on the back for good luck.

After our trial snorkel.  Now on the way to find the whale sharks.



Something must have been funny.

You get an idea of the size of this whale shark in comparison to the snorkelers.
This one immature - only about 6m long.

Helen swimming alongside the whale shark.  Have to swim fast to keep up!

Clive in action.

View from the water waiting for boat pick up.  We had this view 9 times (8 for me - I sat one out).

Clive and whale shark

Clive yet again

Whale sharks swim with their mouths open to catch plankton etc. 

Another view

Clive and whale shark

Biscuits for afternoon tea

Clive and I about to jump in from the back of the boat for the last snorkel of the day

After all that all they gave us were these free stubby holders (only joking).

Looking good in our wet suits

 

Clive trying to catch the marlin board on the back of the boat.