Mermaid Reef is one of three coral atolls that make up the Rowley Shoals, sitting roughly two hundred and sixty kilometres off the Kimberley coast in the Indian Ocean. It is accessible only by liveaboard vessel, and the research indicates the season runs from September to December, with cyclone risk making travel inadvisable from December through March. The atoll is defined by large tidal ranges that drive strong currents through passages and along walls, making drift diving the norm. Sites include vertical walls dropping to eighty metres, a wreck, and shallow coral gardens starting near the surface. Whale sharks, Napoleon wrasse, blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, dogtooth tuna, and green sea turtles are all recorded here. Visibility is consistently high, often reaching fifty metres or more. The reef is a Commonwealth Heritage-listed strict nature reserve.
Monthly water temperature across Mermaid Reef's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water stays warm throughout the accessible season, sitting in the mid- to high-twenties during the September to December window. Strong tidal currents are a defining feature and require careful planning around slack water. The site is closed to visitors during the cyclone season.
Water temperature around Mermaid Reef ranges from about 26°C in July to 29°C in March, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 29°C) a rash guard or 3mm shorty is comfortable in Mermaid Reef; in the coldest months (about 26°C) step up to a 3mm full suit.
Fin maps 5 sites in Mermaid Reef (5 scuba diving sites and 1 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
Across Mermaid Reef's dive sites, October and November are most often reported as the best months to visit.
2 more sites to explore
