DIVE HAPPY

One of the world's most spectacular places to dive, Australia's Ningaloo Reef is in line for long overdue protection

NineMSN: "Western Australia is closer to asking for World Heritage protection for Ningaloo Reef, one of the world's most pristine marine environments.

"Ningaloo Reef is world renowned for its biological diversity, superlative beauty and outstanding geological values and it, along with Cape Range National Park, is one of the State's greatest nature-based tourism attractions," Environment Minister Mark McGowan said. said.

The reef is a habitat to more than 200 species of coral, 600 species of shellfish and other molluscs, 500 species of fish and several threatened species such as dugong and turtles.

It also is an important migratory path for humpback whales and important aggregation and feeding area for whale sharks.

World Heritage listing would help save the whale sharks by bringing their plight to international attention, Mr McGowan said." [Read the full story]

This is great news, although I'm surprised Ningaloo Reef isn't already under World Heritage protection. It's one of the most spectacular places I've ever dived, up there with the Similan Islands and Sipadan, and it's also home to the whale sharks between April and June each year. It should be on the agenda of anyone who's interested in diving in Australia.