Broome boom net: when it runs

What a boom net is

On the Broome sunset catamaran, the boom net is a swimming net that trails off the stern, so passengers can cool off in open water beside the boat. The operator lists it among the cruise's main features, and guests often name it as the part of the evening they liked most. It is part of the ticket in season: there is no extra charge to use it, as long as conditions permit.

The season: April to early October

The operator offers boom net swimming from April to early October, when conditions permit. That window matches Broome's dry season, when skies are mostly clear and daytime temperatures sit around 30 °C. The operator's own site gives a cruising season of April to early December, so a sail in November is a cruise without the net. Outside the window, the net is not part of the cruise, and the sunset sail becomes a boat ride with a bar. If swimming matters to you, book within the months and keep your plans flexible in case the weather moves the evening.

Why the months matter: stingers

Box jellyfish, known as stingers, may be present at Cable Beach between November and April, and warning signs go up on the beach. They can appear outside those months too. The operator says stingers are more prevalent in the wet season, and that swimming is allowed only in the months recommended by authorities. The net keeps you in a defined spot beside the boat, but it is the season, not the net, that makes the swim a sensible choice.

The water itself

Sea temperature at Broome ranges from about 25 °C in July and August to about 30 °C in March, so the water in the net season is warm but not hot. The sea is the Indian Ocean, and the waves on Cable Beach are mostly gentle between May and October. You swim in open water beside the catamaran, so a confident swimmer will be more comfortable than a nervous one. Take swimwear and a towel.

When conditions do not permit

The wording is deliberate: the net is used when conditions permit, and the crew judge that on the day. Guests describe an evening when a light breeze meant little sailing and the net was still the highlight, and an evening when strong wind sent the boat into Roebuck Bay. If the swim is the whole point of your booking, book early in your trip so that a second evening is available.

Other ways to swim in Broome

If the boom net is not running, the beach is the alternative. In the dry season, lifeguards patrol the swimming area marked by red and yellow flags in front of the Broome Surf Life Saving Club every day, and swimmers should stay between the flags. In the tropical season, usually late October to early April, Broome's beaches are not patrolled. Gantheaume Point has no patrol at all, and its rock pools are not safe for swimming because undercurrents can pull swimmers out to sea.

Children and nervous swimmers

There is no minimum age on the cruise, but parents are responsible for children at all times, and the crew are not responsible for their care or safety. Life jackets for children and adults are available on board. Adults who are not confident in open water can stay on deck with a drink and enjoy the same sunset. Nobody has to go in; the deck, the bar and the sunset are the same either way.

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