Lively Shipwreck - Rowley Shoals
We love a wreck that feels like a real discovery, and the Lively at Rowley Shoals delivers exactly that. It’s not just a collection of scattered parts; this is a proper shipwreck, a British clipper that ran aground way back in 1879. You really get a sense of history here. We’ve found ourselves finning through huge schools of fusiliers, so thick they almost block out the light, darting between the corroded ribs and plating. Keep an eye out for the resident trevally and groupers that patrol the deeper sections of the wreck. This site is a fantastic choice for experienced wreck divers who appreciate the story behind the metal, and it offers plenty to explore without feeling overwhelming. Visibility here is usually excellent, often pushing 30 metres, which makes those penetration sections feel a lot more comfortable. Our favourite part? The way the sunlight shafts through the gaps in the hull, illuminating the clouds of glassfish sheltering within. It’s a proper adventure.
- Location
- Rowley Shoals, Australia, Australasia
- Coordinates
- -17.089684, 119.591500
- Type
- wreck
Marine Protected Area: Mermaid Reef
Nearby Dive Sites in Rowley Shoals
- Clerke Reef (reef)
- Cod Hole (reef)
- Imperieuse Reef (reef)
- Imperieuse Reef (reef)
- Mermaid Reef (reef)
- Rowley Shoals (reef)
- V in the Wall (wall)
Marine Life in Rowley Shoals
Home to 380 recorded species including 257 reef fish, 77 hard corals, 13 sharks & rays, 11 sea cucumbers, 8 other, 3 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Gray Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) - Sharks & Rays
- Whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) - Sharks & Rays
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) - Sharks & Rays
- Silvertip shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus) - Sharks & Rays
- Argus Grouper (Cephalopholis argus) - Reef Fish
- Rainbowfish (Halichoeres hortulanus) - Reef Fish
- Viperfish (Chauliodus sloani) - Reef Fish
- Checkered Seaperch (Lutjanus decussatus) - Reef Fish
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
- royal red prawn (Haliporoides sibogae) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Scribbled Angelfish (Centropyge eibli) - Reef Fish
- Six-line wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) - Reef Fish
- Largemouth Triplefin (Ucla xenogrammus) - Reef Fish
- Blackside Hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri) - Reef Fish
- Three-spot wrasse (Halichoeres trimaculatus) - Reef Fish
- Dot and dash Butterflyfish (Chaetodon punctatofasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Bridle Triggerfish (Sufflamen fraenatum) - Reef Fish
- Leopard Hind (Cephalopholis leopardus) - Reef Fish