Ningaloo: Intimate Ocean Photography Safari

9 Days Trip

with Brooke Pyke

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Guided trip

The Story

Ningaloo Reef, 2026. Join award-winning photographer Brooke Pyke for an intimate ocean photography safari along one of Western Australia's most extraordinary coastlines.

This journey goes far beyond taking beautiful images. Across a week on the UNESCO-listed reef, you’ll learn to use photography as a creative lens to understand Ningaloo’s thriving marine ecosystem and your place within it. The goal is to see Ningaloo the way Brooke does - unhurried, curious, and close.

As a long-time Exmouth local, Brooke has shaped this experience with the kind of insight only a local can offer. She’ll guide you through the region she loves, sharing her craft and the stories behind the wildlife that inspires her work.

The week begins with a full-day freediving experience, giving you the skills and confidence to make the most of your time in the water. From there, you’ll move into four full days of private boat charters, offering rare, uninterrupted access to Ningaloo’s marine life. Spend two days in Exmouth searching for whale sharks and other megafauna, supported by a dedicated aerial spotter.Then head south for two private charter days in Coral Bay, home to world-renowned manta rays and thriving reef systems.

This season also includes a cultural camping experience near Coral Bay, where you’ll spend a night under the stars. A private chef prepares all meals for the duration of the trip.

Places are limited to eight guests. If Ningaloo is on your list, this is how to do it properly.

The Highlights

4 days private charters across Exmouth & Coral Bay - whale sharks, mantas & more
8 nights in a modern marina-front villa in Exmouth
1 night cultural camping experience under the stars
Private chef with all-inclusive meals
Aerial marine life spotter pilot and aircraft on charters
Guided by underwater photographer Brooke Pyke

This is more than a trip.

This is an intimate, small-group experience designed to connect you deeply with Ningaloo’s marine world. Limited to just 8 guests, it offers rare access, expert guidance, and the kind of moments that stay with you long after you leave.

Reserve Your Trip

9 Days, 8 Nights

Reef, Whale Sharks, Discovery

Price

$9,350 USD

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"As a wildlife photographer, my aim is to capture the ocean's unique inhabitants with the perfection they deserve. I firmly believe that photography and art have the power to ignite a passion for conservation in the next generation.

- Brooke Pyke

Meet Your Guide

Why Travel With Brooke?

Brooke Pyke is an award-winning Australian underwater photographer, entirely self-taught, whose work has taken her from the reefs of Western Australia and Indonesia to the remote waters of Tonga and beyond. Her imagery has earned international recognition, including a major photography prize in 2022, and been featured in publications including Oceanographic and EzDive.

In the water, she brings a calm, intuitive approach that helps guests feel confident while creating images they're genuinely proud of. Marine conservation sits at the heart of everything she does, and that care for the ocean shapes how she teaches, shoots and leads every expedition.

What Sets Brooke Apart

Expert wildlife knowledge, ensuring ethical, animal-first encounters
Calm, supportive guidance that builds confidence in the water
Award-winning photography capturing light, nuance and emotion
Extensive experience across Australia, Indonesia and the wider Pacific

15+

Years Experiences

25+

Global Expeditions

250k+

Followers

What Fuels Brooke

"Through sharing my imagery, I aspire to contribute to the protection of our planet's last remaining wild places. Join me on this journey to celebrate and safeguard our oceans".

Brooke never planned any of this. She was a graphic design student who was scared of the ocean. One snorkelling trip in Southeast Asia rewired everything. She dropped her studies, became a dive instructor, picked up a camera, and built a career around showing people the beauty hiding just below the surface. That journey, from fear to obsession, is exactly what she brings to every guest: the belief that anyone can fall in love with the ocean if someone shows them how.

Day By Day

Your Itinerary

Day

Welcome to Exmouth

Arrive at the marina villa and settle in. Welcome drinks and snacks, meet your trip hosts and fellow guests, and enjoy an introduction to the Ningaloo Reef and its local history.

The evening is relaxed - a BBQ dinner with the group.

Day

Freediving Fundamentals

Whether you're new to freediving or already certified, this full-day workshop meets you where you are.

The morning covers theory - physiology, breathing, breath-hold, and safety - before the group heads to the local pool with Kyra from Salty Hearts Freediving School for the practical session: duck diving, streamlining, in-water safety, and diving with a camera. By the end of the day, you'll have the foundations to move confidently underwater for the rest of the week.

Day

Introduction to Photography

Brooke leads a full workshop on the fundamentals - camera settings, composition, and the creative decisions that separate a good image from a great one. The afternoon is yours to rest, explore, or get your gear ready. At 6PM, a local marine biologist presents on the wildlife you're likely to encounter over the days ahead.

Day

4 & 5

Ningaloo Reef Megafauna Charters

Both days head out on Latitude 22, with a spotter pilot overhead searching for megafauna. The morning starts with a reef snorkel in the inner lagoon: stingrays, turtles, reef sharks, and coral bommies. Then the boat heads to the outer reef.

What you find out there depends on the day. Whale sharks, manta rays, humpback whales - the species rotate with the season and the conditions. When something is spotted, the crew briefs the group on protocols and you enter the water. Brooke is in with you, shooting alongside you and available for guidance on the spot.

Lunch is served as the boat works back toward the lagoon. The afternoon may include a second reef snorkel or a cruise looking for dugongs. Back at the marina by mid-afternoon.

On the Day 4 evening, Brooke runs a photo review and feedback session - a chance to look at what you captured and sharpen your eye before heading back out on Day 5.

Day

6 & 7

Coral Bay & Cardabia Station

An early drive south brings the group to Coral Bay, where you board Wirraji - Western Australia's first fully electric vessel. The southern end of the Ningaloo Reef is quieter and less visited. The spotter pilot is back overhead, this time looking for resident manta rays and loggerhead turtles.

At the end of the day, Wirraji brings the group ashore at Cardabia Station. Camp is set up and waiting. As the light fades, Hazel Walgar - a traditional owner of this country - shares the history and stories of the Nyinggulu people. After dinner around the fire, the sky opens up for Milky Way photography before everyone turns in for the night in canvas swags by the water.

The following morning, the group heads back out onto the reef for a final session before the drive back to Exmouth.

Note: Cardabia Station has showers, toilets, and power for charging gear. Pack light for the overnight - everything else stays at the villa.

Day

Photography & Editing

The final day stays on land. Brooke leads a hands-on editing workshop in Adobe Lightroom Classic - working through your images from the week, covering the tools and techniques that bring a raw file to life. Each guest also gets a 1-on-1 session with Brooke for personalised feedback.

he week closes with a farewell dinner - nine days of shared meals, shared encounters, and a house full of people who started as strangers and leave as friends who've swum with whale sharks together.

Day

Departure

Breakfast and checkout at 10AM. You'll leave with a full SD card, a new set of skills, and a reef you'll want to come back to.

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Guest Review

Ningaloo

"I booked this trip not really knowing what to expect. I left completely changed. Swimming alongside whale sharks is one thing. Doing it with someone who genuinely loves the ocean as much as Brooke does, and who wants to share that with you - that's something else entirely."

Tessa H, Sydney, Ningaloo 2025

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What's included

8 Nights Exmouth accommodation in modern marina villa
Full day introduction to freediving with Salty Hearts
2-days private full-day Exmouth Whale Shark and megafauna charter
2-days private Coral Bay Manta and megafauna charter
1-night cultural camping experience under the stars
Private chef. All-inclusive breakfast, lunch and dinners
Marine biologist and in water guide while on charter
Aerial marine life spotter pilot and aircraft while on charters
Small group of only 7 guests
Welcome BBQ fully catered on arrival day
Photography fundamentals workshop
Editing workshop using Adobe Lightroom
1 on 1 photo feedback session with Brooke Pyke
Morning tea, lunch, fruit and refreshments while on charter
Tea, coffee and mineral water while on charter
Gear rental while on charter (basic fins, mask, snorkel, wetsuit)
Professional photos from the trip from Brooke Pyke
Marine life presentations from local researcher/biologist
Merchandise pack (t-shirt, mask tamer and travel towel)
Underwater photography manual PDF book
Airguides Expedition Leader

Optional Extras:

Private room or upgrade accommodation

‍What's not included

Underwater Camera Hire
Freediving equipment
Snorkelling equipment while not on charter
Travel/dive insurance
Flights
Car Hire
Airport transfers
Food and drink (unless otherwise listed as included)
Alcohol

What should I pack?

Camera with wide angle or fisheye lens, Underwater Housing
Camera with zoom lens (optional for above water photos)
Spare camera battery, spare SD cards
Any spare camera parts, O ring grease and tools etc
Lens cleaner and cloth
Carry Bag for camera
Arm/wrist lanyard for underwater camera
Gopro as a backup if you have one (optional)
Adobe Lightroom Classic Editing Software
Laptop Computer
Portable hard drive for back up
Mask & snorkel (ideally a low volume freediving mask)
Freediving fins (or closed heel snorkeling fins, not scuba diving fins)
Freediving weight belt
1-2mm fin socks (if you’re prone to blisters)
Dive weights (you can hire in Exmouth)
Wetsuit (3mm recommended)
Spray jacket and warm sweater
Swimwear
Sunhat
Personal Items
Reef safe Suncream
Sense of Adventure
Beach Towel
Reusable water bottle
Seasick medication (for those prone to it)
Telstra (or similar) sim card (no optus reception in Exmouth!)
Good vibes and ocean calm

What might we see?

In-water encounters
• Aggregating whale sharks
• Feeding manta rays
• Migrating humpback whales
• Sea turtles
• Octopus
• Sea snakes
• Variety of tropical fish
• Reef sharks
• Stingrays
• Shovelnose rays
• Leopard sharks
• Schooling fish
• Eagle ray
• Jellyfish
• Macro reef critters

From the boat
• Pods of dolphins
• Playful humpback whales
• Humpback mothers with young calves
• Minke whales
• Orcas
• Seabirds
• Tiger sharks
• Dugongs
• Sea snakes

Please note: the marine life listed above is not guaranteed but it’s what we might have the possibility to encounter.

Can you guarantee what we will see while on safari?

Nope, that's actually the beauty of this tour. What we can guarantee is you'll have the best possible tour we can muster (e.g. we still use spotter planes, we limit the guest count, etc.) and our best effort to secure you multiple swims with different species. The tour starts with what we believe is the best in-water experience for you and we'll continue to search for additional megafauna throughout the tour. We want to show you the best of the Ningaloo Reef, in the way the locals appreciate seeing it. Every day on the reef is wonderful, but sometimes it's extra special and this is the perfect tour for that experience.

What can I expect from this trip?

This is a tour for people who want the ultimate Ningaloo adventure and are ready for a unique experience. The way we approach this tour is embracing what the Ningaloo Reef has on offer for that particular day. When the spotter plane goes up, they will be instructed to find us suitable mega fauna to swim with. There are never any guarantees when you’re dealing with nature but we make our best attempts to conduct exceptional in-water experiences. While we are swimming, the spotter plane continues to look for other mega fauna and communicates those options to the skipper to increase the chances of seeing more wildlife.

What camera equipment should I bring?

Pack the camera gear you're most comfortable with! Whether you prefer DSLRs or a simple smartphone setup with a waterproof case, Brooke Pyke is killed in various underwater photography techniques. For those interested in diving deep into photo editing, we suggest bringing a laptop with Adobe Lightroom installed. If you have any specific questions or need advice on gear, feel free to reach out to us.

What fitness level is needed?

For our ocean adventures, a moderate level of fitness is ideal to fully enjoy water-based activities like swimming, snorkelling, or diving, often lasting several hours. Being comfortable in the ocean is essential. If you have concerns about your fitness level or abilities in the water, please don't hesitate to contact us for advice.

Who will I be travelling with?

Airguides trips are small group expeditions, typically 6 to 12 guests. You'll travel alongside an Airguides Trip Leader, Brooke Pyke, and a mix of like-minded people - solo travellers, couples and friends drawn together by a love of the ocean and the natural world.

Is there a single supplement for solo travellers?

Yes. Solo travellers can request a private cabin for an additional fee. We also offer a roommate pairing option on a limited, first-come-first-served basis. Contact us for details and availability.

Can I speak to someone about this trip or get help with flights?

Yes. Our team can help with flight options and travel routing. Call, text or WhatsApp us at +61 402 552 918. You'll speak directly with an Airguides team member who knows this trip inside out. We're here to help with any questions, big or small, from planning your adventure to arriving back home.

Most trips are for guests aged 18+, but occasionally we welcome younger travellers if the trip is a good fit. For example, confident swimmers may be able to join in-water trips with prior approval. Just reach out if you're not sure!

Can I speak to someone about this trip?

We'd love to chat with you about this trip and answer any questions you have! Feel free to call, text or WhatsApp our friendly team at +61 402 552 918. You’ll be speaking with a real person from the Airguides team who knows this trip inside out. We’re here to help with any questions, big or small, and we’ll support you every step of the way — from planning your adventure to arriving back home.

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What They Say About Us?

Airguides were exceptional hosts for our Raja Ampat liveaboard dive trip. Seamless, professional and incredibly well organised from start to finish. A special mention to Brooke and Prashanti Pyke for their warmth, expertise and attention to detail. They truly made the experience unforgettable.

Highly recommend Airguides.

Adam McKnight, Raja 2025

A truly unique experience that you will cherish for the rest of your life.

This experience is not for the faint of heart or someone who is looking for Instagram moments for clout. You are being given a unique opportunity to go to a place that will only be accessible to a handful of mere mortals.

To be in the presence of a unique visionary like Martin Gregus is truly a once in a lifetime.

Anne Prather, Fireweeds 2025

The Airguides trip to Tonga to swim with humpback whales was the experience of a lifetime. I have traveled all over the world, and nothing compares to being in the wild, rustic, deep blue waters of the South Pacific while interacting with whales and their calves. A wonderful and caring team made our adventures stress free.

+1 864 668 7478