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| Rowley Shoals |  
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Description:
The Rowley Shoals are a chain of coral atolls on the edge of one of the widest continental shelves in the world. The three pear-shaped atolls have shallow lagoons inhabited by corals and abundant marine life. Each atoll covers an area of around 80 to 90 square kilometres. The three shoals are strikingly similar in dimension, shape, orientation and distance apart. Each atoll is north-south orientated, pear-shaped, with the narrow end towards the north. The Shoals rise with nearly vertical sides from very deep water. Mermaid Reef, the most northerly, rises from about 440 metres, Clerke from 390 metres and Imperieuse from about 230 metres.
Where is it?:
260 kilometres offshore from Broome.
Travelling time:
The boat trip to the Rowley Shoals takes approximately 12 hours. Charter operators usually depart from Broome at sunset and arrive at the Shoals at around sunrise.
Access:
Because of their remote location, most visitors go to the Rowley Shoals by charter boat, a trip that takes a few days. Mermaid and Clerke Reefs are the most visited sites. Charter operators are based in Broome. Further information can be obtained from Broome Tourist Bureau, phone (08) 9192 2222. | |
| Details: |
 Nearest commercial airport: Broome in Western Australia |
| Average watertemp: Min 25 - Max 35 oCelcius. |
| Average visibility: 20 Horizontal metres |
| Bottom composition: Corals |
| Dive conditions: Ocean/Sea, Salt water |
| Seasonality: Most operators visit the Shoals from September to November/December. |
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Marinelife in the area:
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | | | Coastal fish & Reef Life |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The coral atolls of the Rowley Shoals are famed for their almost untouched coral gardens, giant clams and other shellfish. An exceptional 233 species of coral and 688 species of fish inhabit the shoals--including many species not found on nearshore coral reefs. There are at least 28 species of stagh... (More)
| | | Great Hammerhead sharks |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
| | | Humpback whales | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Pelagic fish | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Giant potato cod and maori wrasse wait to be hand fed and follow divers around, while trevally, mackerel and tuna hover in schools. Sailfish.
| | Probability of encounter:  0%,  0 > 60%,  60 > 90%,  90 > 100%
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