Clerke Reef

Data integrity note: Clerke Reef is part of the Rowley Shoals, located approximately 260 kilometres west of Broome in the Indian Ocean. It is not part of Ningaloo Reef and is misplaced in this destination dataset. The site is described here for completeness, but should be moved to a dedicated Rowley Shoals destination.

Clerke Reef is one of three coral atolls that form the Rowley Shoals Marine Park, rising from 390 metres depth in the Indian Ocean and offering some of Australia’s most spectacular wall diving.

Overview

Clerke Reef forms the southernmost atoll in the Rowley Shoals chain, approximately 23 kilometres south of Mermaid Reef. The atoll is accessible exclusively by liveaboard from Broome, with the crossing taking approximately 24 hours. The Western Australian state permit system limits visitor numbers, preserving exceptionally pristine conditions.

The reef features a combination of sheltered lagoon sites and dramatic outer wall dives. The lagoon harbours calm, beginner-friendly dives — including The Aquarium and Blue Lagoon (10–30m) — while outer sites like Jimmy Goes to China involve wall descents to 40 metres with strong currents and open-water pelagic activity. The Rollercoaster is an expert-only channel drift requiring advanced buoyancy in strong tidal flow.

Documented marine life across Rowley Shoals includes over 700 fish species and 230 coral species. Grey reef sharks, Maori wrasse, giant potato cod, and moray eels are commonly encountered. Visibility regularly reaches 50 metres on outer wall sections.

Site Information

• Location: Rowley Shoals Marine Park, Indian Ocean (~260km west of Broome, Western Australia) — NOT Ningaloo Reef
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Wall dive
• Difficulty Level: Advanced
• Maximum Depth: 30 meters
• Access: Liveaboard from Broome; limited permit system applies

Sources: Wikipedia — Rowley Shoals, LiveAboard.com — Clerke Reef, Explore Parks WA — Clerke Reef Marine Park. Last updated 2026-06-18.