Coral Bay

We were heading to Exmouth (turning North) when we diverted south to Coral Bay.   We met some lovely people by the name of Domenic & Paula last year at a roadside camp.  One happy hour with them and they kindly invited us to camp up at their property at Margaret River if and when we came to W.A.   We stayed in touch and an email from them to tell us they would be in Coral Bay around the same time as us gave us an excuse to detour that way.   This is a tiny spot on the Coral Coast, the Ningaloo Reef runs thru here.  This provides a sanctuary for the fish.    Perfect snorkelling and reef diving spot for those keen.   Glass bottom boats run from here, as well as dive boats.   There isnt much here, two caravan parks, each one of them owns a little shopping centre and thats about it.   But the water and the bay is the most beautiful I have ever seen.   The water was crystal clear and you could actually see both fish and small stingrays swimming around you.   Every afternoon at 3.30 dozens of large Spangled Emperor (WA snapper) come in to be hand fed (they know this is a sanctuary and no fishing is allowed.)   They are fed pellets whilst they swim amongst the crowd.  It was great, some small zebra and bright green parrot fish also came in, too hard to get photos though.

You can just see ricks legs as he fed the fish



Domenic, Paula and Sally the dog.   A few drinks one night around a campfire last Nov. and then we met up again this week.  It felt like we had only just left them.    Loveliest people and Rick had a real bond with Dom.   Cant wait to see them at Margaret River.