SubSea Explorer has been taking guests to view the underwater world for more than 30 years. View Ningaloo’s semi-submersible vessel is the only semi-submersible in Western Australia. View Ningaloo would now like to introduce a second way to experience the reef. Turquoise Girle, a new power catamaran, is a custom-built vessel designed specifically for half-day snorkelling adventures, and it’s already taking guests out from Exmouth to explore some of the best coral gardens on the Ningaloo coast.
If you’re planning a trip to Exmouth and wondering which tour suits you, here’s everything you need to know about our newest vessel, from how it was built to what a day on board actually looks like.
Turquoise Girle was built in 2025/2026 in Queensland, by an Australian aluminium boat builder known for vessels that handle real conditions without sacrificing comfort. Owners Lucy and Matt set out to design something specific: a boat built purely around the half-day snorkelling experience, rather than a shorter reef-viewing trip.
That focus shows in the details. The layout is spacious enough for guests to move freely between snorkelling sessions, the ride is smooth even when the wind picks up, and the deck is set up to make a full morning or afternoon on the water genuinely comfortable. Whether you’re travelling with young kids or a group of experienced snorkellers, there’s room to spread out and rest between swims.
It’s a different kind of vessel to the SubSea Explorer, and that’s intentional. The SubSea Explorer offers a truly unique opportunity to view the underwater world from below sea level. With its semi-submersible design and large glass viewing windows, it remains unsurpassed when it comes to coral viewing in Western Australia. Guests can see the reef from below the surface before having the opportunity to get in the water and experience it for themselves with a snorkel.
The Power Catamaran has been purpose-built specifically for half-day tours on Ningaloo Reef. Designed to access shallow drift snorkelling sites that can be difficult to reach, it gives guests the opportunity to explore more of the reef and experience a wider variety of marine life. Its quiet engines also help provide the best possible chance of interacting with marine life in its natural environment.
With generous space, exceptional comfort and a focus on creating a premium experience, the Power Catamaran brings a little touch of luxury to exploring Ningaloo Reef.
Turquoise Girle has been purpose-built for comfort and exploring Ningaloo Reef. Roomy padded bench seating allows guests to sit facing forward or aft, with a spacious change room, toilet, onboard fridge and plenty of storage.
The wide catamaran hull provides a comfortable, stable ride across a range of sea conditions. The bow lowers for easy beach access, while the submersible swimming platform at the stern makes getting in and out of the water simple for swimmers and snorkellers.
With 360-degree views, Bluetooth speakers and clear drop-down covers for extra wind protection, Turquoise Girle is designed to be enjoyed both in and out of the water. Even if you don’t snorkel, experiencing Ningaloo Reef from the boat is a treat.
Our Half Day Total Ningaloo and Half Day Turtle Tour are designed to showcase Ningaloo Reef over three hours, combining snorkelling, marine wildlife encounters and time on the water aboard Turquoise Girle. With comfortable facilities and a welcoming, professional crew, both tours make it easy to enjoy the reef at a relaxed pace.
The main difference between the two tours is how you get to the boat. The Half Day Total Ningaloo includes a comfortable bus transfer from Exmouth Town Centre to Tantabiddi Boat Ramp. Along the way, your marine guide will share information about the history of the area and point out local landmarks and places of interest.
The Half Day Turtle Tour starts directly at Tantabiddi Boat Ramp, where guests meet the crew and board Turquoise Girle for the three-hour experience.
For groups wanting the boat to themselves, Private Tours are also available, with the itinerary shaped around the group’s interests and swimming ability – call to book.
View Ningaloo has always been a family-run operation, and the decision to build a second boat came from a simple observation: there was a gap in the Ningaloo experience.
Not every guest wants to spend a full day whale sharking, but many want more than a glass-bottom boat experience. We wanted to create a dedicated half-day tour that gives guests more time in the water, more opportunity to explore the reef, and a comfortable way to experience Ningaloo.
Turquoise Girle was built specifically to fill that gap. A purpose-built, brand-new power catamaran, she offers a fresh new face of Ningaloo and a premium half-day experience.
Rather than trying to make one boat do both jobs, Turquoise Girle was built to complement SubSea Explorer and give guests two genuinely different ways to experience the reef.
The boats may be different, but the standards are the same. Our deckhands, skippers and guides hold Bronze Medallion, First Aid and Master Reef Guide certifications, and View Ningaloo remains Eco Certified by Ecotourism Australia across both operations.
The vessel might be new, but the standards and care guests have come to expect from View Ningaloo haven’t changed.
Ningaloo Reef’s sanctuary zones are home to an incredible variety of marine life, and a half-day tour gives you more time to explore. Across multiple snorkelling sites, you can expect to see a range of hard corals and reef fish, along with regular sightings of green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles grazing across the seagrass beds and sandy flats. During breeding season, you may also spot turtles mating in the shallows.
Keep an eye out for dolphins, dugongs, rays of all sizes, sea snakes, groupers and reef sharks, including two crowd favourites: tiger sharks and leopard sharks. Every day on Ningaloo is different, and that’s part of what makes exploring the reef so special.
If a half-day of snorkelling across Ningaloo’s coral gardens sounds like your kind of trip, Turquoise Girle is now taking bookings for the Half Day Total Ningaloo, Half Day Turtle Tour, and Private Tour options.
Pack swimwear, a towel, a water bottle, and a camera or phone if you’d like photos. A hat and reef-safe sunscreen are worth bringing too, since you’ll be out on the water for a full half-day. Everything else, including masks, snorkels, fins, noodles and wetsuits, is provided.
View Ningaloo is so excited to now offer you two boats to explore Ningaloo.
Ready to book? Head to our Power Catamaran: Turquoise Girle tour page to check availability and reserve your spot.
