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Ningaloo Freediving Expedition Recap: Whale Sharks, Humpbacks, Mantas, Tiger Sharks & an Epic Week on the Reef
Ningaloo delivered again.
There are not many places where you can spend a week in the water and have a chance of swimming with whale sharks, manta rays, humpbacks, tiger sharks, turtles, dolphins and more.
That is exactly why we keep coming back.
On our first trip this year, our crew swam with 4 humpback whales, 3 tiger sharks, countless mantas and 3 whale sharks, as well as more than 10 different shark species.
We saw dusky sharks, guitar sharks, shovelnose rays, blacktip reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, silvertips, grey reef sharks, tawny nurse sharks and tiger sharks.
On top of that, we had hawksbill turtles, green turtles, minke whales, humpback dolphins, common dolphins, dugongs, rays, huge schools of fish and some seriously healthy reef.
Then the second trip somehow had more unicorn experiences.
One of the biggest highlights was finding and getting to swim with a great hammerhead and a pigeye shark.
Both were seriously special encounters, and definitely not the sort of thing you can ever plan for.
That is what makes Ningaloo so good. You never really know what is going to come past next.
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The Mantas Were Next Level
The manta encounters were probably one of the biggest highlights.
We had mantas feeding amongst huge schools of fish, doing barrel rolls right in front of us and cruising so close that, at times, we were the ones trying to get out of their way.
That is the thing about Ningaloo.
You can go there expecting a certain animal or encounter, but some of the best moments are completely unplanned.
You just need to be in the water when it happens.
Whale Sharks, Humpbacks and Tigers
We were lucky enough to swim with 3 whale sharks during the trip.
For a lot of people, seeing a whale shark is one of those bucket-list experiences, but Ningaloo gives you the chance to stack these encounters on top of everything else happening on the reef.
We also swam with 4 humpback whales, which was unreal.
And when we weren't in the water with them, we were watching them breach from shore or out on the boat.
Another huge highlight was swimming with 3 tiger sharks.
For most of the crew, this was their first time in the water with tigers.
With experienced local skippers and guides, we were able to make multiple drops and give everyone the chance to properly experience these animals without rushing it.
They are such impressive sharks to see in the water.
The Trip Is Not Just About Ticking Off Animals
One of the reasons we love these trips is that they are not built around racing from one wildlife encounter to another.
We had sunset picnics at the lighthouse, watched whales from shore, explored different parts of the reef, ate at local venues and spent a heap of time just hanging out as a group.
And that is normally what people remember just as much as the diving.
A good crew makes a massive difference.
Everyone on this trip was keen to get in the water, respectful around the wildlife and happy to make the most of whatever Ningaloo gave us each day.
Why We Run Ningaloo Differently
Our 2027 Ningaloo trips are now open.
These are not big, high-volume group tours.
We use private charter boats and work with local operators and friends we have been diving with for years.
Some of the people we work with have spent close to 20 years on Ningaloo.
That local knowledge makes a huge difference.
They know the reef, they know the animals, they understand the conditions and, most importantly, they care about how these encounters are done.
We also deliberately keep our groups smaller.
It means less waiting around, more time in the water and more flexibility to work with the conditions on the day.
Because most of our guests are already comfortable in the ocean, whether that is through freediving, snorkelling, surfing or diving, we can usually make the most of opportunities when they come up.
Ningaloo is also one of the better-managed whale shark destinations in the world, with strict rules around interactions.
That is important to us.
We want people to have incredible wildlife encounters, but we also want to make sure the animals are given space and treated properly.
Join Us in 2027
These trips are for people who genuinely love the ocean.
You do not need to be an elite freediver.
You just need to be comfortable in the water, keen for an adventure and happy to spend a week surrounded by marine life.
Expect whale sharks, mantas, reef sharks, turtles, coral gardens, local adventures, sunsets and plenty of time in the water.
If Ningaloo has been sitting on your bucket list for a while, come and experience it with us in 2027.
Join Deep Sensations Freediving for Ningaloo 2027.
Scenes from this years trip
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