Silversea’s Silver Cloud Excursion Stranded by Rapid Tide Off Adele Island

Introduction
A shore excursion along Western Australia’s Kimberley coast took a dangerous turn when a group of passengers from the Silver Cloud, operated by Silversea Cruises, became stranded near Adele Island due to an unexpectedly swift tidal drop. The incident occurred on June 27, 2025, as roughly 70 guests and 10 expedition guides found themselves isolated on exposed coral beds, prompting a coordinated shipboard rescue operation.

Details of the Incident

Stranding and Immediate Impact:

• The excursion group was approximately four nautical miles from the Silver Cloud when a sharp tidal drop left passengers and guides stranded in Zodiac boats or on foot, unable to safely return to the ship.
• Many individuals had to walk up to 500 metres across coral reef terrain to reach deeper water, where rescue teams were dispatched to retrieve them.
• Several passengers suffered minor injuries, including twisted ankles and scrapes, but there were no life-threatening cases reported.

Delayed Return and Rescue Efforts:

• A portion of the group remained ashore in fading daylight until tides rose again in the evening, enabling their safe return to the vessel at approximately 10:00 p.m. local time.
• All guests and crew were eventually brought back aboard, and Silversea ensured that medical staff attended to those injured.
• The incident caused a temporary pause in the itinerary but did not require emergency evacuation by external authorities.

Response from Silversea and Local Authorities:

• Royal Caribbean Group, parent company of Silversea, released a statement confirming the safety of all involved and commending the response efforts by the ship’s expedition team.
• Phillip “Bibido” McCarthy, a local ranger and traditional owner, highlighted the dangers of Kimberley’s tidal extremes, stressing that even locals can misjudge the rapid water shifts without careful planning.

Environmental and Navigational Context:

• Adele Island is a remote, uninhabited atoll known for protected bird nesting sites and marine life such as sea turtles.
• The Kimberley region is subject to some of the world’s largest tidal variations, with vertical shifts up to 11 metres in certain locations, creating hazardous conditions for coastal and reef exploration.

Itinerary Resumption:

• After successfully recovering all guests and guides, the Silver Cloud resumed its scheduled itinerary, proceeding to Talbot Bay for the next segment of its Kimberley expedition cruise.