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.

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YouDive turtle in an illustrated Western Australia setting; not a photograph of Rowley Shoals

Custom YouDive mascot art inspired by Western Australia. An imaginative illustration, not a photograph or map of this destination.

Your bearings, in a minute

Rowley Shoals at a glance

Start with the local site mix, explore the map and find people to ask about your trip.

Explore
18 site records
Recorded settings
Wall · Reef · Cave/Cavern
Map coverage
18 locations to explore
Plan with local help
Meet the listed operators

Directory counts describe published records, not bookable trips. Location confidence is shown separately in the map list. How we check information →

Sources, authorship and review status

Prepared by YouDive editorial with AI assistance. No firsthand visit, equipment test or instructor review is implied.

Independent specialist review: pending. We publish a reviewer’s name, qualifications, date and exact review scope only after the review has actually happened.

Who can contribute and how reviews work →

Find your bearings

Explore Rowley Shoals on the map

Compare where the recorded sites sit, then open a site to read its access and source notes. Locations are for orientation, not marine navigation or entry instructions.

18 matching records · 18 with a map location · 0 without a usable position.

The local notebook

Where should you start in Rowley Shoals?

Use the actual places attached to the local records to narrow your research. These are recorded nearby towns and areas, not verified departure points or accommodation recommendations.

Different outings to look into

Details drawn from individual published site records
Local exampleRecorded nearby placeRecorded accessFollow the evidence
Clerke CavesBroomeBoat (multi-day/liveaboard)Recorded source ↗
Clerke Channel DriftBroomeBoat (multi-day/liveaboard)Recorded source ↗
Eel Creek (Clerke Reef)BroomeBoat (multi-day/liveaboard)Recorded source ↗
Cupcakes (Clerke Reef)BroomeBoat (multi-day/liveaboard)Recorded source ↗
How to use this shortlist

Choose the named outing that interests you first. Compare its recorded place and access with your accommodation plans, then obtain the actual meeting address and schedule from the provider. The site links show the underlying depth, location confidence and source notes. Similar town names or map positions do not establish that two outings can be combined in a day.

A closer look at Rowley Shoals

Get a feel for the diving

Our Rowley Shoals directory currently includes 18 published site records. The largest recorded category is wall (6 records). Use the mix below to decide what you would like to read about first.

The YouDive turtle introducing this destination’s guide

Rowley Shoals: what’s in the directory?

A visual guide to recorded site types. Counts show coverage, not popularity or current availability.

Wall6 records
Reef5 records
Cave/Cavern2 records
Drift2 records
Pinnacle/Bommie2 records
Other recorded types1 record

Source: published YouDive directory records for Rowley Shoals. Bars use the same scale within this graphic; the longest is the largest category, not 100% of the destination.

A few local records to compare

Start with Clerke Caves, Clerke Channel Drift, Eel Creek (Clerke Reef). These are examples from different recorded categories, not a recommended route or a list of the best sites. Open each record for its sources, map and review notes.

One alphabetical example per recorded type, up to four types
SiteRecorded typeAccessDepth
Clerke CavesCave/CavernBoat (multi-day/liveaboard)5–12 m
Clerke Channel DriftDriftBoat (multi-day/liveaboard)5–23 m
Eel Creek (Clerke Reef)Muck/SandBoat (multi-day/liveaboard)10–20 m
Cupcakes (Clerke Reef)Pinnacle/BommieBoat (multi-day/liveaboard)8–50 m

How the recorded depths compare

A dot shows a recorded maximum. A line joins the recorded minimum and maximum when both are available. These are site descriptions, not target depths or certification limits.

Clerke Caves5–12 m

The table above contains the same depth values. Depth alone cannot establish suitability, and records may require correction. Source: the linked site records.

Pick a WA base before you pack

Western Australia is a collection of very different trip ideas. Use a specific region to narrow the search, then make the departure, equipment support and travel arrangements the centre of your plan.

Name the activity you want

Be clear whether you want certified scuba diving, a course, snorkelling or a wildlife excursion. Similar photographs can advertise different activities. If friends are travelling together, list each person’s intended activity separately and ask whether a shared departure is possible. That makes the quote easier to compare and helps avoid booking a memorable-looking trip that does not include the experience you wanted.

Connect the island or coast with the departure

A ferry, accommodation booking and dive trip may need separate reservations. Check how their meeting and return times fit together and which operator supplies each part. For a coastal road trip, anchor the diving around one confirmed base at a time. A broad region name is a browsing label, not a transfer estimate or a promise of equipment support in every town.

Reserve the details that matter

Ask about hire sizes, guiding, gas and equipment services relevant to your actual plans. Record the response and its date rather than assuming a service from a business name. Keep an alternative activity in the itinerary and understand the terms for a changed departure. Buying flexibility in the travel plan can be more useful than collecting extra site names.

Three conversations worth having before you book

Island visit

Do the passenger transfer and dive booking connect?

Check each supplier’s timetable.

Coastal road trip

Which town supports the actual outing?

Build transport around the meeting point.

Wildlife booking

Is this scuba, snorkelling or sightseeing?

Compare the right activity and inclusions.

From “that looks lovely” to a plan

Make Rowley Shoals your kind of dive trip

Find your starting point, meet the local options and keep your ideas together. You do not need to have the whole trip worked out yet.

Where are you on your diving journey?

These are learning paths to explore, not prerequisites for every local site. Confirm the actual course, instructor and your readiness with the provider.

People to talk to about Rowley Shoals

These profiles are based in the region or have a sourced link to one of its sites. Shown alphabetically, not as a quality ranking. Ask about the specific trip or course you want.

Compare these local operators →

Browse all operator profiles in this state or territory →

Let’s put the pieces together

Start with the place and your questions. Add dates and prices once you have spoken with the people running the trip.

Open my trips

Creates a new trip with this destination, useful reading and starter questions. Saved on this browser; export a backup from My trips.

THE LOCAL PLANNING BRIEF

Understand the options around Rowley Shoals

What this regional directory records

There are 18 published site records in Rowley Shoals. The recorded categories include wall (6), reef (5), cave/cavern (2), drift (2). These categories reflect the database; they are not a ranking, a conditions report or an assessment of your suitability.

Use the Rowley Shoals site cards to compare recorded access and depth, then open the individual pages for the map accuracy and source notes. Sites grouped in a region are not necessarily close enough to combine in one day.

Research operators in Western Australia →

Ask before booking

  1. Which town is the practical base for this departure?
  2. What transport and baggage limits apply?
  3. What is the plan if the departure is delayed?

Save the answers with the contact name and date. Separate confirmed arrangements from items still waiting for a reply.

Record your trip questions →

Questions, answered

How do I choose a dive in Rowley Shoals?

Begin with the individual site and its source notes, then discuss the proposed trip with a local provider. The 18 published records are research options, not a list of trips available today. Match the plan to your training, recent experience and the operator’s current requirements.

When should I visit Rowley Shoals for diving?

Choose dates with a provider who runs the activity you want, then discuss seasonal patterns, recent conditions and alternative itineraries. A generic best-month claim cannot establish the conditions at your exact site or guarantee a wildlife encounter.

Can I use these maps to enter or navigate a dive site?

No. Recorded and approximate map positions support orientation only. Confirm the exact access, permissions, meeting point and route with the responsible local provider or manager.

Regional planning context: Tourism Western Australia — maritime heritage and shipwrecks ↗. Directory counts come from published YouDive records. Individual site claims remain subject to their source and review notes.

Dive sites in this region

Find local operators
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
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWall

Rowley Shoals

Clerke Wall

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

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 40 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

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
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWall

Rowley Shoals

Jimmy Goes to China

Grey reefs and silvertips on a current-swept point.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 40 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWall

Rowley Shoals

Mermaid Wall

The Shoals' deepest wall, draped in red gorgonians.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 40 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Rowley Shoals

Clerke Aquarium

A calm bommie and staghorn garden inside Clerke.

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

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
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Rowley Shoals

Imperieuse Reef

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

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 40 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWall

Rowley Shoals

Minis & Mighties (Clerke Reef)

Clear-water slope to a drop-off.

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

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
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWall

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