Imperieuse Reef

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Rowley Shoals

Why dive here

With 365+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, giant moray eels, grey reef sharks, hammerhead sharks and humpback whales - Imperieuse Reef offers some of Rowley Shoals's richest reef diving. Water ranges 26-31°C, warmest January, February, March.

Best timeJul–Sep

WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit

Marine lifeBarracuda, Giant Moray Eels, Grey Reef Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks and Humpback Whales · 365+ species recorded

Water26-31°C · warmest January, February, March

CharacterReef dive

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Imperieuse Reef, one of the three atolls making up the Rowley Shoals, feels properly remote. You're out in the Indian Ocean here, a good distance off the coast of Broome, and the journey alone makes it feel like an expedition. Diving here often involves drifting along the outer walls, watching for pelagics that cruise in the blue. We've seen reef sharks, dogtooth tuna, and big schools of trevally on most trips. The coral itself is healthy, plenty of hard corals, with soft corals filling in the gaps. It’s definitely a spot for divers who appreciate wide-angle views and a sense of genuine wilderness, rather than hunting for macro critters.