North Star Cruises Australia

THE WORLD'S LAST GREAT UNDERWATER WILDERNESS - ROWLEY SHOALS

You are suspended in turquoise shallows surrounded by delicate lace corals, fronds of vivid pink, orange and yellow. Darting in and out is a metallic rainbow of attendants. Then, the corals cap about you is starting to move swiftly past. Faster and faster the disgorging tide is propelling you out of the lagoon and to the very edge of a plunging midnight blue abyss.

Due west of the pearling port of Broome three pristine coral atolls tower vertically in 400 metres of water to create the worlds last great underwater wilderness. The Rowley Shoals offer 300 square kilometers of splendor with no significant history of exploitation - a showcase of more than 600 species of fish (including numerous species of charismatic mega-fauna such as hump-back whales, manta rays, schooling hammerhead sharks, potato cod and other large reef species) and more than 200 species of exaggerated corals. Uniquely influenced by significant tidal range, protected by marine park status and insulated from global warming by deep oceanic waters, the shoals represent perhaps the only true remaining example of undisturbed coral habitat. However, not even an inviting water temperature of 26o C and reliable 40 metre visibility has compromised the flawless nature of the Rowley Shoals; their remoteness ensures that less than 200 divers a year a fortunate enough to give testimony to their brilliance!

Not unlike the pearl divers of yesteryear, North Star Cruises Australia are also the pioneers of this exclusive and un-spoilt paradise. They have conducted adventure-cruises to the Rowley Shoals since 1987 and today you can visit the wordls last great underwater wilderness on the purpose built True North. This state-of the-art dive platform features luxury cabin accommodation & fine dining, an open deck bar, computer controlled motion stabilizers, multiple dive tenders and a dedicated dive deck complete with nitrox facilities and direct access to the water.

Affiliation:

PADI

Training Level:

up to Advanced Open Water

Boat Description:

North Star Cruises' TRUE NORTH is the most modern and luxurious cruise boat of its type in Australia.

The spacious, state-of-the-art 50 metre luxury cruiser was purpose-designed and built for exploring Australia's remote coastal waters. The True North has an Australian crew of 20 and can accommodate up to 36 passengers in air-conditioned comfort and style.

We carry our very own helicopter on board - guests get to witness the very best by air, land and sea aboard TRUE NORTH!

Sites Visited:

Lying 300 kilometres due west of Broome, the coral atolls of the Rowley Shoals tower vertically in 400 metres of water to create 'the world's last great underwater wilderness' - an area of more than 300 square miles with no significant history of exploitation. Uniquely influenced by substantial tidal range, the Shoals support more than 600 species of fish (including several species of diver-friendly mega-fauna such as hump-back whales, manta rays, hammerhead sharks and other large reef species) and the exaggerated growth of more than 200 species of coral.

Facilities:

• Resort/Intro Dives
• Scuba hire
• Own accommodation

• Showers
• Diving seven days
• Own Liveaboard(s)