Roebuck Bay Flying Boat Wrecks (deep-water Catalinas)

Meet the site

On the morning of 3 March 1942, nine Japanese Zero fighters attacked Broome, destroying 15 flying boats moored in Roebuck Bay — Dutch Dorniers, US Navy PBY Catalinas and RAF/Qantas Short Empire flying boats — and seven aircraft at the airfield. Many flying boats were full of Dutch refugees evacuating Java. At least 80 people, including more than 20 children, died, making it the second-deadliest attack on mainland Australia after Darwin. A US B-24 Liberator was shot down about seven miles off Cable Beach and has never been found.

Six wrecks lie on the mudflats off Town Beach and are exposed on spring low tides below 1.1 m. The other nine lie in deeper water off the edge of the flats, several still unlocated. Divingwawrecks documents two PBY-5 Catalinas: Site 03 at about 10 m (on a 5.0 m tide) with twin 14-cylinder radial engines, nose turret and cockpit area visible; and Site 02 at up to 14 m with a complete engine in its cowling, wing structure and fuselage sections. The ABC described divers navigating 'from shadow to shadow' in soupy water.

This is among the most demanding dives in Australia: near-zero visibility, currents to 4 knots, a narrow tidal window, and a bay that is known shark and saltwater crocodile habitat. The wrecks are protected under the WA Heritage Act 2018 and treated as war graves; positions are not published, and nothing may be disturbed or removed.

It suits only highly experienced, self-sufficient divers with local knowledge and full surface support. For most visitors, the low-tide walk to the shallow wrecks and the WA Museum's material are the way to experience this history.

What you might see

Silt-tolerant reef fish on wreckage, large sharks, occasional saltwater crocodiles

Location

Nine WWII flying-boat wrecks in deeper water off the edge of the Roebuck Bay mudflats near Town Beach, Broome, sunk in the Japanese air raid of 3 March 1942; diveable wrecks lie in about 10–14 m at high tide.

Facilities nearby

Town Beach: boat ramp, parking, café, toilets.