Rowley Shoals Information
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See all locations in North West WARowley Shoals Information
The Rowley Shoals Islands, a chain of coral atolls on the edge of one of the widest continental shelves in the world are located 260 kilometres offshore from Broome.
The three pear shaped atolls have shallow lagoons inhabited by corals and abundant marine life each covering an area of around 80 to 90 square kilometres. The three shoals are strikingly similar in dimension, shape, orientation and distance apart. 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.
The Rowley Shoals are fast gaining a reputation for offering some of the best diving in Australia. Today the Shoals rank among the most remote and pristine marine areas in the world. Lying on the very edge of Australia's continental shelf, they are regarded as the most perfect examples of shelf atolls in Australian waters.
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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.
In the early 1980s, pieces of wreckage believed to be from a 240 tonne ship known as the Lively were found on Mermaid atoll. The Lively embarked on a whaling voyage to the southern hemisphere around 1808-1809.
The boat trip to the Rowley Shoals takes approximately 12 hours. Because of their remote location, charter company trips to the area take a few days. Charter operators are based in Broome. Most operators visit the Shoals from September to November/December.
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