Coral Bay EcoTours — Local services in Coral Bay

Amazing snorkel spots, actually swimming with manta rays rare

Since I have snorkeled a lot around Australia and Fiji I really was sad not getting the chance to see a manta ray in Fiji, really got my hopes up for coral bay.

3 times I did the same eco trip (and first paying for two, this company does not have a policy that if you don't see the main thing that you booked for you would go for free, you just have to pay again).

That being said, beside not seeing the mantra ray, the first trip was overall the best. No matter how many times I snorkel and see the underwater world, I keep being amazed. First time doing this tour via coral bay and not sure if they ever had so may snorkel moments (lost track of it, most have been at least 5-6 times) and saw so much! Heaps of fish with so many different and wonderful colors, multiple turtles, sharks, a huge stingray with a little stingray that followed it and even did a bit of a 'taxi'drive with it, an amazing site to see.

Not used to the coral not being very colorful, but it still had wonderful shapes and in a way I was extra excited when I did see some color. Even saw about 18 dolphins!

This made the second time a bit of a disappointment... Started of good with sharks, even double the amount than the first trip. I saw a turtle and to my own excitement a octopus! Also interesting to see big amount of fish swimming together. Then there was the moment, everyone ready there is a manta..... only for the manta to swim off without anyone going in the water and there wasn't another go possible... that sucks! A little bandage on the wound was that, in the middle of lunch, we could go out for another snorkel because there was a big loggerhead turtle. To be honest still an amazing site to see, especially when it swam over hips of starfish (see my confusion/struggle if seeing a manta is what I really wanted to see🤪).

Luckily the day before I was leaving Exmouth I was able to join the tour one more time, this must be THE moment😚 Eventhough I also sort of settled with the idea it could happen that yet again no manta ray, I really wanted to fully enjoy every snorkel moment.

Had a feeling the first stop was one we did not do before. It was quite deep but wauw, it was a bit like a maze, so many corals, big and small, somehow I felt even more colors than other times. I felt a bit like Ariel and almost expected Aquaman to show up 😝. It felt very dreamy and just really a nice experience. I followed a turtle and whoeps 'you need to stay with the group😅😊', after I saw a stingray that almost seem to 'dig' a hole on the bottem of the ocean.

The second stop wasn't as nice as the first one but still a lot of fish (too bad we didn't do the shark cleaning station).

Back on the boat, we got a briefing about mantas and how to swim with them. Not long after... off we went, multiple mantas were spotted! We went in two different groups. First drop in the water was for me short but the best sighting of a manta, YES I can tick off that box😍 It wasn't really relax and a lot of swimming because they moved fast, still amazing to finally see one!

So after all the trips I just want to say that there really is not a guarentee for manta rays. But if you keep that in the back of your mind and just enjoy the snorkeling, you can still have an amazing time and see different things, not 1 trip was the same. With all the trips there were spots that were a bit murky but other spots had a good/great visibility.

The crew was awesome and really knowledgeable. Out of the 3 trips there was one lady I really found the best with the briefing and explaining more about mantas, snorkeling and even a short explanation about how to put on your snorkel (amazingly never had that before and didn't realize that water kan also come in your goggles if you have them on too tight 🤪) hope I spell your name right, Naomi, you're a rockstar and never loose...

We were booked for the humpback whale tour last Wednesday 9th July but unfortunately it was cancelled.

The lady at the counter on Tuesday (Mary I think?) was lovely and despite being under stress from having to handle the sudden cancellation of the tour we were meant to be on, she handled it professionally and well. We are a group of 8 and she tried her best to give us options. We ended up booking into the Manta Ray Tour which was fantastic!

We had a Fabulous crew. Skipper Adrian, photographer Thomas, lead swim guide Giada + Flor and Justin were with us that day. I cannot praise the crew we had that day enough. Schedule was very well paced & my 9 yo handled it well and kept up very well. Instructions and communication was also very clear. I think it helped heaps as well, that all guests on board that day were really cooperative and great. Guides were very very professional and so patient. I am not a strong swimmer and only snorkelled a few times off shore. So snorkeling in open waters was very nerve wrecking for me & including wanting to make sure my child was always safe. The crew was fabulous in handling it and I felt very very safe and reassured. The easier way would have been to just let me stay behind as I wanted to back out n not be a trouble. But the crew tried to support and encourage me! Justin guided me and swam near me to ensure I felt ok before he let me go myself but he was never far off. Allowing hubby to enjoy himself as well and be with our boy. Flor helped handle my son's mask change in water excellent and easily. My son never felt uncertain.

We saw manta rays, turtles, fish of course, reef sharks etc.. It was a fabulous experience!

At every point, none of us in our group felt unsafe or worried while out in the water as the crew was on point in their care and management of it.

Such a good crew is priceless and I would definitely recommend the tour! A huge thank you to all...

We had a terriable experience with coral bay Eco Tours. It was over a year ago know we went on a hump back whale tour. Everything was going ok while we where in the calm waters sheltered by the sand bar. The waves looked quite big that where breaking at the sand bar where you exit into the deeper water. The captain to proceeded to exit.

On approch to where the waves where breaking i could see a massive wave coming at us. With no warning from any of the crew, we got smashed by the wave. People went flying all over the deck. Many things got lost overboard. My daughters brand new iphone, my expensive sun glasses and 2 cameras ( the cameras where other passengers) The possesions lost where not the main concern. My wife fell onto her back quite heavily and was in quite alot of pain. We completed the tour and when we returned we spoke to the people in the reception about our lost items in which i was told i would need to speak to the owner of the buisness about.

That afternoon my wife had to go and see the doctor as she was still in alot of pain.

I set up a time to meet with the owner the following day. I expressed my concerns not only about our lost items but also my wifes injury. He was not only rude he had no regard about or lost items and my wifes injury.

I was told there was nothing he could do as as a business he was struggling due to everything that had happened with covid. This really annoyed me as his buisness seemed to be booming with multiple tours going out every day. In the end all this time later, no compensation for all our items lost and my wife still has back soreness to this day.

Complete disrespect shown by the buisness owner who was a straight out rude person.

A warning to all be carefull that you are covered by this buisness if you are injured or items are lost due to there negligence.

Will never go on...