Ashmore Reef 2019

Notes

Weather & sea conditions, tide heights & times, unusual sightings or other factors may affect this itinerary. The Diversity is capable of cruising at speeds of 10 knots enabling us to make detours to investigate birds or cetaceans where necessary without affecting the schedule. Daylight hours are from around 5.30 AM to 6.00 PM.

Ashmore Reef is a National Nature Reserve. A permit from the federal Government is required to go ashore on the three islands and associated sandbars. We have all the necessary permits to land on West Island, East and Middle Islands. Permits are also held for visits to Browse, Adele and The Lacepede Islands required by the Western Australian Government.

Participants will need to arrange their own accommodation in Broome for the nights immediately prior to and following the trip. Although assistance is provided for transfers between your accommodation and the boat, it is essentially your responsibility to provide mobile contact details and advise Kimberley Birdwatching of your accommodation location for transfer arrangements.

Travel insurance and emergency medical evacuation insurance and a current passport is essential for all participants. The passport requirement is to cover a situation where the vessel is required to shelter in Indonesian waters or port due to cyclonic conditions. (This unlikely event has not taken place in over 20 visits by Kimberley Birdwatching) Participants are strongly advised not to book outgoing flights from Broome on the same day that a trip returns to the port of Broome.

Data collected on these trips by the leaders and participants has contributed significantly to our understanding of the birdlife and cetaceans at Ashmore Reef and in the surrounding seas.