Destinations
MV Odyssey dive boat review
Photos: Odyssey Expeditions / LiveAboard.com.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA · ROWLEY SHOALS · ODYSSEY EXPEDITIONS
MV Odyssey: remote reefs with a small expedition group
MV Odyssey is the flagship of Odyssey Expeditions. For divers, the trip to look for is the eight-day, seven-night Rowley Shoals cruise from Broome. Its 20-guest capacity, substantial tender and unhurried time offshore make it a very different holiday from a short Cairns reef trip.
Rowley Shoals lies roughly 300 kilometres offshore. Walls, drifts, sheltered lagoons and immense schools of fish are the attraction; the long crossing and shared bathrooms are the trade-offs. Odyssey also operates Kimberley and West Coast expeditions, but these are coastal exploration holidays and should not be booked as substitutes for the dedicated dive programme.
The vessel and cabin choice
Odyssey is a 24-metre catamaran with an 8-metre beam. The published vessel record gives a 2006 build and a 2015 renovation; that renovation date is not a claim that no work has occurred since. Ten air-conditioned cabins accommodate up to 20 guests.
| Cabin | Layout and comfort | Bathroom |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Twin · four cabins | Two single beds, storage, individual air-conditioning, 240 V power and bar fridge. A practical choice when most time will be spent on deck. | Shared facilities outside the cabins. |
| Deluxe · six cabins | Larger accommodation, with queen or twin arrangements according to the assigned room. Queen cabins have a desk and vanity. Confirm the configuration before paying. | Shared facilities; a vanity is not an en-suite bathroom. |
Four shower/toilet facilities serve the accommodation. If stairs or night-time bathroom access are a concern, discuss the cabin location before booking. For solo travellers, a compatible twin-share berth and a cabin for sole use are different bookings, with different prices. The assigned cabin and bathroom access are worth settling together.
Life aboard and meals
On the upper deck there is a spacious dining area inside, roomy enough for all guests to sit together. Outside, shaded seating offers a pleasant place for an alfresco meal or a break between excursions. Other viewing decks, books and screen entertainment provide quieter alternatives.
The chef prepares breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Tea, coffee, soft drinks and juices are included on the Rowley programme; alcoholic drinks cost extra. Advise dietary requirements when booking. This is a relaxed expedition setting, so pack soft luggage and casual clothes rather than formal dinner wear.
Diving from Odyssey
The 12-metre expedition tender Homer carries guests to the dive and snorkelling locations. It offers shade, seating and a landing ramp. The offshore setting calls for comfortable buoyancy, buddy procedures and the ability to follow a drift-dive briefing. Discuss your certification, recent experience and any refresher needs with Odyssey before reserving.
Air, weights and belts are included in the Rowley package. Personal equipment needs to come with you or be hired in advance. Nitrox is not promised by the current programme; divers who depend on a particular gas, cylinder connection or camera facility will need that arrangement confirmed before booking.
Allow for an overnight ocean crossing each way. Arrange insurance appropriate to remote diving and evacuation, and check how its depth, activity and medical terms apply to you. Ask the operator for the last planned dive time before fixing a flight; keep an adequate no-fly interval even if the boat returns earlier than expected.
Rowley Shoals itinerary and the wider programme
The sample Rowley trip starts in Broome, spends its first reef days at Clerke, then moves to Mermaid before returning overnight. Expect the skipper to alter the sequence with sea and tidal conditions. Neither wildlife sightings nor a fixed number of dives are guaranteed.
Odyssey itinerary map
Select one or several routes. Rowley Shoals is the dedicated diving programme; the coastal layers show the boat’s other expedition families. Straight connections are indicative and may cross land at this overview scale.
- Rowley Shoals · 8 days: Broome departure area → Clerke Reef → Mermaid Reef → Broome departure area.
- West Coast · 10 days: Fremantle departure area → Montebello Islands → Broome departure area.
- Southern Kimberley · 12 days: Broome departure area → Talbot Bay → Montgomery Reef → Prince Frederick Harbour → Broome departure area.
- Kimberley Cruise & Fly · 9 days: Broome departure area → Talbot Bay → Montgomery Reef → Prince Frederick Harbour.
- Ultimate Kimberley · 14 days: Broome departure area → Talbot Bay → Montgomery Reef → Swift Bay → Wyndham arrival area.
- Swift Bay fly/cruise · 11 days: Broome departure area → Talbot Bay → Montgomery Reef → Swift Bay.
The map shows principal programme references, not every excursion or a navigable track. The West Coast voyage also visits the Abrolhos and Shark Bay; Ultimate Kimberley continues through the northern rivers. Reverse sailings use the opposite direction. The 27-day combination joins West Coast and Ultimate Kimberley with Broome land nights. Best of Both Worlds joins a Kimberley fly/cruise to Rowley Shoals, also with a Broome stay. Flights are transfers, not sea passages.
Principal dive-site references
- Clerke Reef: Atoll reference: Aquarium, walls, channels and Bedwell Island in the sample programme. Site selection depends on tides.
- Mermaid Reef: Atoll reference: Mermaid Wall, Coral Gardens and channel dives. Exact entry points are set by the crew.
Map references checked 9 October 2026: Operator programme; Rowley reef references; Broome; Talbot Bay; Prince Frederick Harbour; Swift Bay; Wyndham; Fremantle; Montebello; Montgomery Reef. Positions are for trip planning, not navigation.
What does Odyssey cost?
| Trip / fare basis | Classic Twin | Deluxe |
|---|---|---|
| Rowley Shoals · 8 days / 7 nights · listed 2026 and 2027 departures | AUD 4,990 per person | AUD 5,490 per person |
These are operator fares checked on 9 October 2026, on a shared-cabin basis. They are a dated planning reference, not a live availability promise. Include travel to Broome, accommodation before boarding, gear hire and alcohol in your budget. Ask for an itemised invoice confirming any park or visitor charges: the partner’s generic fee range spans more than one itinerary and is not a reliable Rowley-specific supplement.
Kimberley visitor passes, flights and land nights vary by programme. Compare those trips using their own inclusions, rather than applying the Rowley fare. Before a deposit, obtain the cancellation schedule, payment deadline and arrangements if weather changes the trip.
Check Odyssey dates and cabin quotes
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What guests loved — and what could be better
Odyssey’s guest accounts describe an expedition chosen for the reefs, crew and time offshore. They also explain why the cabin layout and equipment arrangements deserve as much attention as the destination photographs.
What guests loved
Phyllis W’s LiveAboard.com review of 21 October 2025 praised the dive team and generous meals. Kate T, writing on 6 November 2024, particularly valued the crew’s decisions to cancel unsafe dives and adjust the schedule when conditions improved. Her account highlights a flexible expedition rhythm, rather than a fixed checklist of dives.
What could be better
Phyllis also noted coral bleaching on her visit; that is a dated observation, not a description of every reef today. Philip J, on 30 October 2024, enjoyed Mermaid Wall and the attentive safety procedures but found shared bathrooms inconvenient, particularly from a lower-deck cabin. He wanted more large pelagic encounters and found the rental arrangements cumbersome. Those points belong to his trip: wildlife varies, and older equipment comments do not establish current provision.
When another boat might suit you better
If a private bathroom is central to your comfort, Odyssey’s shared facilities may outweigh the appeal of a small expedition group. Rowley Shoals also involves overnight ocean passages, so a Cairns outer-reef stay is a different choice for someone seeking less travel offshore. On Odyssey itself, the dedicated Rowley diving trip is the relevant programme; the Kimberley coastal cruises serve a different kind of holiday.
Rowley Shoals with Odyssey
Film by epicvideoproduction. Scenes illustrate a past voyage; conditions vary. Watch on YouTube
Odyssey questions answered
Does Odyssey still run Rowley Shoals diving trips?
Yes. Odyssey publishes eight-day Rowley departures for 2026 and 2027. Confirm the actual date and cabin before arranging flights.
Are the cabins en suite?
No. The boat has four shared shower/toilet facilities. A Deluxe cabin’s vanity does not make it en suite.
Is Odyssey suitable for a snorkeller?
The Rowley trip includes snorkelling opportunities. Ask about supervision and your swimming ability; a remote ocean expedition is different from a sheltered beach excursion.
Is the full dive kit included?
The operator lists air, weights and belts. Arrange other equipment separately and confirm collection, sizing and cost before arriving in Broome.
Can I rely on Nitrox?
No current Nitrox inclusion has been established for this trip. Obtain written confirmation if you require enriched air.
Which cabin should a couple choose?
Deluxe is the more spacious option, but confirm whether the actual room is queen or twin. Classic Twin suits two travellers who prefer separate beds and a lower fare.
Is every Odyssey itinerary a diving cruise?
No. Select Rowley Shoals for the dedicated dive and snorkel programme. Kimberley, West Coast and combined itineraries focus on coastal excursions and have different transfers and inclusions.
What should I book around the cruise?
Arrive in Broome with time to deal with travel delays and equipment arrangements. Confirm the boarding transfer, return time and last dive before purchasing onward flights.
Been aboard? Share your experience
Your travel date, cabin and route help other divers put a review in context. Tell us what you enjoyed and what could have been better.
Editorial details checked 9 October 2026. This is a source-based guide, not a new firsthand inspection aboard.
Where does this liveaboard dive boat go?
Check out the fabulous places where this dive boat travels to.
Note: some destinations may not be listed below, please enquire for more details.
Townsville
Townsville combines Great Barrier Reef day trips, the Museum of Underwater Art at John Brewer Reef and access to the SS Yongala wreck. Magnetic Island adds a nearby island stay. Choose the reef/art trip for a mixed party; choose Yongala only after checking the operator’s experience requirements.
Cairns
Cairns is a practical base for Great Barrier Reef day boats, learn-to-dive courses and liveaboards. Depending on your time, your budget, and your diving certification you can dive in many places around Cairns. Choose nearby outer reefs for a short visit, or a northern Ribbon Reefs/Coral Sea itinerar
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is a long reef system off Queensland, not a single dive site. Choose Cairns for the largest range of reef boats and northern liveaboards, Port Douglas for Agincourt day trips, Townsville for MOUA and Yongala access, or the Whitsundays for island holidays and Hardy Reef.
Ningaloo Reef
The Ningaloo Reef is located on the stunning West Coast of Australia. Choose Exmouth for the North West Cape and Coral Bay for a compact reef holiday farther south. This is a fringing-reef destination with shore snorkelling, boat dives and seasonal wildlife trips; it is not part of the Great Barrier
Port Douglas
Port Douglas is a small, beautiful coastal town of North Queensland famous for its beach and reef life. Its main diving choice is a day boat to the Agincourt reef system, with the Daintree area close enough for a separate land day. Do not confuse this with a liveaboard expedition to Cod Hole or Ospr
Australia
From the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo to southern wrecks and seadragons, Australia rewards choosing a region and season that suit the diving you love.
Whitsunday Islands
When diving in the Whitsunday Islands you have two possibilities: the local spots or going further out on the Great Barrier Reef. Airlie Beach is the mainland base, while Hamilton Island offers a resort-and-airport alternative. Decide whether you want island sailing with some snorkelling or a trip d
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