How to Visit The Coral Bay Shark Sanctuary

No trip to Coral Bay would be complete without at least one attempt of seeing wild reef sharks swim around in the Shark Sanctuary.

Here you can see adult reef sharks, pregnant females and baby reef sharks. 

At the best of times you can see up to 200 reef sharks swimming in the water. On our trip to Coral Bay in 2022 we saw close to 100 reef sharks, all swimming in close to the shore! It certainly was an incredible experience.

On our most recent trip (2024) we unfortunately saw no sharks in the sanctuary when we visited. Although, some friends of ours saw plenty on a different day. It’s important to note that, while there are times that you are more likely to see reef sharks here, they are still wild animals and there is no guarantee to getting to see them!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. By making a purchase, you are directly supporting and allowing me to continue providing you with free high-quality travel content. Thank you for supporting this blog!

About the Coral Bay Shark Sanctuary

There are several species that are known to use this area as a nursery including black tip reef shark, white tip reef shark, grey reef shark and lemon shark.

The area where the reef sharks congregate is called Skeleton Bay, likely getting its name from the skeleton looking rock formation that juts out of the water on the entry to the bay. It is located in the Maud Sanctuary Zone, a part of the Ningaloo Marine Park. Please follow sanctuary zone rules when visiting which include no fishing and no dogs.

Getting to the Shark Sanctuary

The Coral Bay Shark Sanctuary, also known as the shark nursery, is about a 20 minute walk north along Bill’s Bay. The image below shows the shoreline you follow to get to the shark sanctuary in the bay towards the end.

The walk from the main Coral Bay Beach to the Shark Sanctuary gets rocky in some places. If you have sensitive feet, definitely wear shoes!

When to See Reef Sharks at the Sanctuary in Coral Bay

The best time of the year to see the sharks is between September and March.

We found that reef sharks are more likely to be in the bay at the change of tide. So you will need to get information on the current high tide times during your stay. We like to check the tides via willy weather, and simply keep an eye out for when high tide aligns with low wind during our stay.

Alternatively, if your here during the school holidays just keep an eye out for the crowds heading towards the sanctuary area. If there are lots of people walking there, you are likely to see some sharks!

Visibility of the reef sharks is always better when the water is clear. So it’s best to visit when the wind is low. However, don’t let the wind stop you from visiting the sanctuary! Especially as there’s often a lot of wind at this time of year.

Best Practices for Viewing Wild Reef Sharks

When visiting the reef sharks it is your responsibility to minimise your impact and act appropriately. Simply observe the sharks and don’t interfere with them in anyway.

Remember, these are wild animals and their behaviour is unpredictable.

Tips for Visiting with Kids

• If you are heading here with young kids, I suggest you take them in a carrier, since the walk can get quite difficult at times.
• It can get quite warm on this walk, so try (with tides aligning) visit early in the day to beat the heat!
• While our 4 year old son was able to walk a good portion of the way, my advice is to incentivise them with an ice cream treat post walk! Trust me, you’ll be ready for one too!
• Don’t forget to sunscreen up and wear a hat for the walk!

Where to Stay in Coral Bay

• Ningaloo Coral Bay Backpackers ($): Coral Bay Backpackers offers affordable accommodation, catering for budget travellers. There is an outdoor swimming pool, as well as barbecue and kitchen facilities.
• Bayview Coral Bay ($$): Bayview Coral Bay not only has options for camping, but also has cabins of various sizes available to stay in.
• Peoples Caravan Park ($$): Located opposite Coral Bays’ main beach, this caravan park also has a variety of apartment style cabins to stay in.
• Ningaloo Reef Resort ($$$): Temporarily closed as undergoing renovations.

Overall

Visiting the Coral Bay Shark Sanctuary is only one of the many things to do in Coral Bay. If you’re staying in Coral Bay for more than a week, you can definitely do this walk a few times. Although if you’re walking with young kids, once might be enough! Even if you don’t always see the reef sharks, it’s a beautiful coastline to explore!