On the morning of 3 March 1942, nine Japanese Zero fighters attacked Broome, destroying 15 flying boats moored in Roebuck Bay — Dutch Dorniers, US Navy PBY Catalinas and RAF/Qantas Short Empire flying boats — and seven aircraft at the airfield. Many flying boats were full of Dutch refugees evacuating Java. At least 80 people, including more than 20 children, died, making it the second-deadliest attack on mainland Australia after Darwin. A US B-24 Liberator was shot down about seven miles off Cable Beach and has never been found.

Six wrecks lie on the mudflats off Town Beach and are exposed on spring low tides below 1.1 m. The other nine lie in deeper water off the edge of the flats, several still unlocated. Divingwawrecks documents two PBY-5 Catalinas: Site 03 at about 10 m (on a 5.0 m tide) with twin 14-cylinder radial engines, nose turret and cockpit area visible; and Site 02 at up to 14 m with a complete engine in its cowling, wing structure and fuselage sections. The ABC described divers navigating 'from shadow to shadow' in soupy water.

This is among the most demanding dives in Australia: near-zero visibility, currents to 4 knots, a narrow tidal window, and a bay that is known shark and saltwater crocodile habitat. The wrecks are protected under the WA Heritage Act 2018 and treated as war graves; positions are not published, and nothing may be disturbed or removed.

It suits only highly experienced, self-sufficient divers with local knowledge and full surface support. For most visitors, the low-tide walk to the shallow wrecks and the WA Museum's material are the way to experience this history.

Launch at the Town Beach boat ramp on Roebuck Bay (Broome) on the higher part of the tide. The deep-water wrecks lie off the edge of the mudflats a short run from the ramp; their GPS positions are not published because they are war graves, so dive with someone who knows the sites. Keep a boat live with a lookout at all times.

Roebuck Bay has tides of up to about 10 m and currents up to 4 knots. Dive only mid-year on neap tides, on the incoming tide one or two days after the smallest range; the rest of the time currents and turbidity make it impossible. Visibility is typically 0–3 m (about 1–2.5 m recorded on the Catalinas).

Strong easterlies in the dry season chop up the bay. Wet season (November–April) brings cyclones, run-off and box jellyfish.

Descend a shot line placed on the wreck at slack water, stay in physical or line contact with the wreck in near-zero visibility, and explore from shadow to shadow — engines, wing and fuselage sections — without touching. Ascend the shot before the tide begins to run; the boat must be live to recover anyone swept off.

Dive on neap incoming tide; shot line and live boat with lookout essential; lights and line/contact navigation.

No commercial dive operator. Dived by experienced local divers and WA Museum expeditions; land-based guided walks visit the shallow wrecks at low tide.