Rowley Shoals

Australia

The Rowley Shoals are a remote group of three atoll-like coral reefs off the northwest coast of Western Australia, protected as marine parks and reachable only by long-range boat charter, mainly from Broome.

The Rowley Shoals comprise three separate reef systems - Mermaid Reef, Clerke Reef, and Imperieuse Reef - each enclosing its own lagoon and rising steeply from the surrounding ocean depths. They are remnants of a Miocene-era barrier reef system with no permanent population, known among divers for steep coral walls and rich marine biodiversity.