The 23rd Parallel is an outer reef dive and snorkel site on Ningaloo Reef's exposed wall, accessed only by boat from Coral Bay. The site's main draw is a vertical reef face broken by small ledges where large sea fans grow outward into the current and reef sharks shelter in the shadows. A manta cleaning station — where manta rays hover while cleaner fish work over them — makes this one of the most sought-after spots along the Ningaloo coast. The open-ocean exposure delivers clear water and heavy marine traffic, though swell conditions can change rapidly. This is a wall profile suited to confident snorkelers and divers comfortable with boat-based entry in moving water.
The 23rd Parallel
IntermediateMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.8 mSwell Period 11 sWind Speed 5.6 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
The spot
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Open-ocean swell exposure
The site sits on the outer reef with no sheltered lagoon, exposing snorkelers to surges that can make descents and surface intervals challenging.
Moderate risk: Strong currents along the wall
Current can run along the vertical reef face, requiring good fitness and awareness to avoid being swept off site.
Low risk: Boat-only access
No shore entry or exit available; all dives and snorkels rely on the operator's assessment of conditions, with no sheltered fallback.
Low risk: Maximum depth exposure
The wall drops to around 25 m / 82 ft; depth and bottom-time management are relevant even for snorkelers on the surface above deep water.
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Getting in
Boat
Entry
The 23rd Parallel is located on the outer Ningaloo Reef off Coral Bay, Western Australia. Access is by commercial snorkel or dive tour boat only — no shore entry. Tours depart from Coral Bay, approximately a 1.5-hour drive north of Carnarvon or 2 hours south of Exmouth via the Coral Bay Road turnoff.
Parking & facilities
Park at the Coral Bay town centre or boat harbour; no dedicated parking at the site itself.
toiletsparking
Accessible only via paid snorkel/dive tour from Coral Bay operators.
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports