Underwater With The Graceful Manta Ray In Ningaloo

With over 25 years snorkelling the beautiful blue waters of the Ningaloo Reef, Peter Shaw has seen all manner of wildlife, most notably the peaceful and graceful Manta Ray. Taking passengers who share his curiosity and respect for these animals on unique tours of the coral reefs, he offers the opportunity to witness them in their natural habitat. To find out more about this incredible Ningaloo experience, here, Peter tells us all about the encounters he’s had, the habits of the Manta Ray, and why he finds them so fascinating.

Why did you start Ningaloo Experience?
It was my love of the reef that prompted me to develop Ningaloo Experience. I wanted to share this incredible environment with other people who enjoy the underwater world as much as I do in a sustainable manner.

Where does your own experience with Manta Rays come from?
We originally fished in Bateman’s Bay observing Manta Rays along the way. My appreciation grew and the unique nature of the Manta Ray sparked the idea. I was intrigued by these graceful animals and we tried snorkelling with them. Even though I was told in the beginning that it would be impossible to do this, perseverance and careful observation of their behaviour paid off.

How long have you been swimming with them?
We have been taking people to snorkel with Manta Rays for the past 25 years. Pressure on them is mounting. Boats carrying large volumes of passengers and ever increasing competition puts a lot of stress on these animals. To this day, we only carry 12 people ensuring our interactions are as unobtrusive as possible.

How did you observe the Manta Ray to know how to approach the Manta Ray Tours successfully?
It is a privilege to snorkel with these animals, not a right. With that thought in mind we interact with our wild animals: we keep noise to a minimum, swim quietly without splashing and do not interfere with what the animal is engaged in and don’t cross its path, keep our distance. Our quest is to leave the Manta Rays to what they were doing when we approached them.

Is there a time of year when you’re more likely to view the mating dance of the Manta Rays or is it sheer luck?
Intermittent throughout the year, but we don’t interact with Manta Rays while engaged in this vital behaviour.

Is there a specific area of the Ningaloo you take passengers to where you can usually find Manta Rays?
Manta Rays are found in Bateman’s Bay. Entering the Bay through North Passage, they either feed on plankton or frequent cleaning stations allowing us to snorkel with them. On average, the lagoon is only three meters deep which makes for this unique experience.

How can you tell if a Manta Ray is responding badly to interaction with humans? What course of action do you take to eradicate the distress?
The Manta Ray will curl up its lobes, change direction or speed away. We break off all contact if an animal shows these signs of distress.

How much do Manta Rays interact with humans?
Manta Rays are very aware you are in the water. They are very tolerant to let us observe them. Young animals might glance at you out of curiosity but generally they don’t interact with humans and go about their business.

As well as swimming with Manta Rays, what else does the Outer Reef Experience include? What other marine life could passengers see on the tour?
On this 5-6 hour tour, we explore the beauty of Ningaloo Reef! We will visit two outer reef coral sites with abundant tropical fish. Each snorkel is guided and our experienced crew will provide you with educational information on all marine flora and fauna. Next to snorkelling with Manta Rays in Bateman’s Bay, the boat cruises through the Turtle Sanctuary in the reef shallows with the chance to see Green Turtles feeding on seagrass. We observe a lot of other marine life such as Dolphins, Rays, Reef Sharks and Dugongs. From mid July through to early November, watching migrating Humpback Whales is also included at no extra cost.

What’s the most exciting/potentially dangerous thing that’s ever happened on one of your tours?
We watched a pod of Orcas attack a Humpback Calf. Its mother was trying everything to protect the calf even lifting it out of the water. We eventually left the scene as the mother searched for her offspring. A Blue Whale and its calf visited the area and we were fortunate to spot them. The sheer size of a 30m whale is overwhelming. Tiger Sharks feeding on carcasses or hunting a turtle … observing wild animals in their natural surrounds is fascinating.

Witness the Manta Ray and other marine life for yourself on a tour with Ningaloo Experience.

www.ningalooexperience.com