Imperieuse Reef - Rowley Shoals
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.
- Location
- Rowley Shoals, Australia, Australasia
- Coordinates
- -17.616945, 118.966940
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Rowley Shoals
Nearby Dive Sites in Rowley Shoals
- Clerke Reef (reef)
- Cod Hole (reef)
- Imperieuse Reef (reef)
- Lively Shipwreck (wreck)
- Mermaid Reef (reef)
- Rowley Shoals (reef)
- V in the Wall (wall)
Marine Life in Rowley Shoals
Home to 380 recorded species including 257 reef fish, 77 hard corals, 13 sharks & rays, 11 sea cucumbers, 8 other, 3 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Gray Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) - Sharks & Rays
- Whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) - Sharks & Rays
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) - Sharks & Rays
- Silvertip shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus) - Sharks & Rays
- Argus Grouper (Cephalopholis argus) - Reef Fish
- Rainbowfish (Halichoeres hortulanus) - Reef Fish
- Viperfish (Chauliodus sloani) - Reef Fish
- Checkered Seaperch (Lutjanus decussatus) - Reef Fish
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
- royal red prawn (Haliporoides sibogae) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Scribbled Angelfish (Centropyge eibli) - Reef Fish
- Six-line wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) - Reef Fish
- Largemouth Triplefin (Ucla xenogrammus) - Reef Fish
- Blackside Hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri) - Reef Fish
- Three-spot wrasse (Halichoeres trimaculatus) - Reef Fish
- Dot and dash Butterflyfish (Chaetodon punctatofasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Bridle Triggerfish (Sufflamen fraenatum) - Reef Fish
- Leopard Hind (Cephalopholis leopardus) - Reef Fish