9 Day West Coast Wildlife Cruise

Boarding in the early hours of the morning, the cruise departs from Port of Fremantle at dawn. We’ll cruise approximately 30 nautical miles to the northern edge of the Perth Canyon, depth of 650m arriving mid-morning. We then follow the continental shelf NNW,  ranging in depth from 200m to 600m. The Perth Canyon has attracted plenty of attention in recent years with birders and mammal enthusiasts with plenty of sightings of Pygmy Blue Whale, Dwarf Minke Whale and Gray’s Beaked Whale from December to April.
Birds recorded on previous trips to the canyon include Indian Yellow-nosed & Shy Albatross, Brown & South Polar Skua, Cape, Soft-plumaged & Great-winged Petrel. Arctic Tern have also been recorded in recent years.

Steaming overnight, covering 100 Nautical miles we will arrive at Pelsaert canyon at dawn, depth of 642m. Following breakfast; guests will have the option to snorkel the pristine Pelseart reef  and lump areas to  experience the abundance of fish and marine life. Birdwatchers will have the opportunity to experience the premier seabird breeding sites, where 2 million sea birds nest during Nov – Feb.  At Pelseart, there are 17 species of birds, including colonies of the rare Lesser Noddy, Australian Gannet, Hutton’s, Little, Wedge-tailed & Flesh-footed Shearwater, White-faced Storm-Petrel and Tern species. 

With lunch on anchor, we will then steam to Coral Patches in the afternoon for another breathtaking snorkel. Coral Patches is covered in majestic Staghorn coral, with lots of playful bright fish, crayfish, cuttle fish and fascinating demersal cleaning stations. We will finally drop anchor and enjoy dinner at Wooded Island, bird watchers paradise!

Over the next 3 days we will be at the islands, and will tailor our itinerary to best suit conditions.

Birdwatchers will revel in the abundance of birdlife at Wooded and Morley Islands. Take in Ospreys and Eagles overhead, along with the wading birds and the friendly sea lions on your guided walk along the sandy beaches. After lunch we will steam across to Little Sandy Island, surrounded by vibrant coral. The island is home to the largest colony of Sea Lions in the Abrolhos, with some bird wading opportunities on the end of the beach. After a long day exploring, kick back with a cold drink and enjoy the fresh seafood dinner under the  golden West Coast skyline.

A fascinating Pearl Tour will be offered by a local expert, plus a visit to Blue Lagoon, a fun tidal drift snorkel, through intricate reef, past an immense variety of fish including the cheeky clown fish. 

History fanatics will be in their element! Over the next few days we will explore the fascinating history of the area and soak up the amazing snorkeling that is on offer.

Nature lovers can explore Wallaby Island and search for the endemic subspecies of the Painted Button Quail and the Tammar Wallaby. If weather permits you will have the opportunity to snorkel the infamous Batavia wreck that sits at 6-8m deep, and learn about the unbelievable events that followed.  Next – a walk on West Wallaby Island; the largest islands in the Abrolhos leads us to the forts built by Weibbe Hayes and his soldiers in defence against the mutineers. On the way you will be on the lookout for the Tamar Wallaby, lizards and Carpet pythons.

We will cruise over to Turtle Bay to experience the desinated snorkel trail; swim with clouds of fish and spot a crayfish or two. 

Today birdwatchers will spend the day deep sea viewing. One of the target species is Bulwer’s Petrel, extremely uncommon in Australian waters. 

Anchoring in the protected waters, guests have the options to  snorkel, swim  or take a leisurely beach stroll. Birdwatchers can spend the day on the island, or another popular option is exploring the lighthouse  and a  walk up to the landing site of Dirk Hartog in 1616. 

Whilst on the lookout for whales in the morning, Diversity will drop anchor at Norwegian Bay. Guests have the opportunity to explore the remnants of the whaling station and the history of this remote location. Further along, there is a great snorkeling wreck in the sandy lagoons, home to turtles and stingrays. 
An early dinner will be served before our steam into Exmouth.

Guests will arrive in Exmouth between 7-8am,  to board a private bus to transfer to Learmonth Airport (Exmouth).