About Us

Imagine escaping the rat race to a pristine wilderness environment with a skipper who has 33 years of living and working experience at this archipelago known as the Abrolhos Islands.

Abrolhos Island Charters is owned and operated by Jay and Sonia Cox out of Geraldton, which is situated 424kms north of Perth in Western Australia. We pride ourselves on our local knowledge of the area and our cuisine of seafood delights. Jay has a passion for cooking and is sought after for many of his signatory dishes. Our guests enjoyment, comfort and safety are of the utmost importance to us which is why many continue to return on our charters year after year.

Adventure tours to the Abrolhos are our specialty. Our tours include eco tours, kayaking in our glass bottom canoes, fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing and bird watching. Or if you would like to view the spectacular sights underwater without getting wet, try our newly introduced semi submersible vessel which seats 2 people on the top deck and 2 people below in the viewing deck. We also cater to research and scientific study groups. We can individually design tours to satisfy all your favourite marine activities.

The Abrolhos Islands are located 60 kms west of Geraldton’s shores in Western Australia. It is an amazing archipelago consisting of 122 islands clustered into three main groups the Wallaby, Easter and Pelsart Group, which network over an expansive 100 kms of ocean. The islands boast an extensive range of marine life, thanks to a unique mix of tropical and temperature marine species. The unique coral reef formations and spectacular coral gardens make for magnificent scuba diving and snorkeling while the prolific fish life abounds making for excellent fishing.

The Abrolhos Islands are also rich in maritime history. The islands were quickly named by the early mariners, “abre os olhos” Abrolhos, meaning “Open the Eyes”. Wrecks are littered throughout the islands, a reminder just how hazardous these waters once were. The best known being that of the Dutch East India Company vessel  Batavia(1629), wrecked on Morning Reef near Beacon Island. While Commander Pelsaert and 44 of his men took the ship’s tender to Jakarta for help, fighting and mutiny erupted on the Islands. Jeronimus Cornelisz had more than 130 men, women and children murdered. When Pelsart returned he captured the prepetrators had them trialled and they were hung.

The Batavia and the Zeewijk are the best known shipwrecks at the Abrolhos.  There have been around 18 other historic shipwrecks that have been discovered around the Abrolhos waters.

Many species of breeding sea bird colonies keep the skies dancing with entertainment, whilst the protected waters are a haven for marine mammals such as the sun basking sea lines, bottlenose dolphins and migratory whales. Swell lines wrapping left and right around the islands make quality surfing locations possible in a variety of weather conditions.

With Geraldton (Sun City) being only 25 minutes away by aircraft this area is one of the sunniest locations in Australia and has a Mediterranean type climate. The presence of the Leeuwin current makes the water temperature during winter around 20-22C and is responsible for the flourishing coral and tropical marine species.