The first part of our Australian trip took us to the western coast. Even though we were only a few miles or less from the Indian Ocean, it was still part of the great Outback desert. Very dry and very sparesly inhabited. This area, near Exmouth, was studded with termite mounds.

Some were small. This one was the largest we saw.

Spinifex - what passes for grass here. It takes 15 acres of this stuff to support one sheep (or 10 acres for a cow) on gigantic livestock stations - typically 50,000 acres.

Coral Bay's bay. Coral Bay is the tiny community where we stayed while searching for whale sharks.

Ningaloo Reef Resort. My room was at the bottom right.

Each morning we walked down to the bakery for breakfast.

I heartily recommend the Steak and Mushroom pies. Or the Steak and Onion pies. Or the...

There was no dock. We were ferried out to the boat, the Santosha.

On the dive deck. The dive leaders were all young women.

The way you swim with whale sharks, in my two experiences, is to perch on the boat's stern platform and wait while the captain tries to find one (with the aid of a spotter plane above). When he shouts the order, you jump in and swim as fast as you can. Maybe you see it.

Ten Seconds with the Whale Shark - Coming. The visibility was bad because of a storm out in the ocean. Our whale shark suddenly appeared as if from behind an opaque curtain, barreled through our midst and disappeared.

Ten Seconds with the Whale Shark - Going. I got these two pictures.

Then you wait for the boat to come and pick you up.

On the road back the Exmouth, we saw this small kangaroo.