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Western Australia

Diving in Rowley Shoals

Three atolls 300 km off Broome, the Rowley Shoals rise from 400 m of water with vertical walls, coral that sees a few hundred divers a year, 50 m visibility and the drift dive through Clerke Reef's channel on the flooding tide. Mermaid, Clerke and Imperieuse reefs are dived on week-long liveaboards.

Dive sites in this region

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WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Rowley Shoals

Blue Lagoon (Clerke Reef)

Sheltered lagoons with walls, coral heads and 40 m visibility — the Rowleys' easy classic.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 25 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteDrift

Rowley Shoals

Clerke Channel Drift

A fast flood-tide drift through bommies into the lagoon.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 23 m
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Rowley Shoals

Clerke Wall

A vertical atoll wall with pelagics in 30 m+ visibility.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 40 m
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Rowley Shoals

Cod Hole (Mermaid Reef)

Bumphead parrotfish and sharks over white sand, ending in a fast drift.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 30 m
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Rowley Shoals

Jimmy Goes to China

Grey reefs and silvertips on a current-swept point.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 40 m
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Rowley Shoals

Mermaid Wall

The Shoals' deepest wall, draped in red gorgonians.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 40 m
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Rowley Shoals

Clerke Aquarium

A calm bommie and staghorn garden inside Clerke.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 12 m
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Rowley Shoals

Clerke Caves

Light shafts through tunnels framed by red gorgonians.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 12 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the sitePinnacle/Bommie

Rowley Shoals

Cupcakes (Clerke Reef)

Cupcake-shaped bommies with curious batfish.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 50 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteMuck/Sand

Rowley Shoals

Eel Creek (Clerke Reef)

A field of hundreds of garden eels.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 20 m
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Rowley Shoals

Imperieuse Reef

The least-publicised atoll, with the Cunningham Island lighthouse.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 40 m
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Rowley Shoals

Minis & Mighties (Clerke Reef)

Clear-water slope to a drop-off.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 50 m
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Rowley Shoals

The Bat Cave (Clerke Reef)

A gorgonian-covered wall plunging to 50 m.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 50 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteCave/Cavern

Rowley Shoals

Mermaid Caves

Caves on Mermaid Reef.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 20 m
Details need confirmation
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteDrift

Rowley Shoals

Plectropoma Pass

Rowley Shoals pass named after the coral trout genus Plectropoma

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Depth not recorded
Details need confirmation
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Rowley Shoals

Sheer Delight (Clerke Reef)

Named Rowley Shoals site listed by Diveplanit and Divernet

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Depth not recorded
Details need confirmation
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Rowley Shoals

South Park (Clerke Reef)

Named Clerke Reef site listed by Diveplanit and Divernet among Rowley Shoals dives.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Depth not recorded
Details need confirmation
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the sitePinnacle/Bommie

Rowley Shoals

The Bommie (Rowley Shoals)

Named Rowley Shoals site listed by Diveplanit and Divernet, centred on a large bommie.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Depth not recorded
Details need confirmation