King Reef is the Exmouth Integrated Artificial Reef, deployed in August 2018 by Recfishwest with BHP, National Energy Resources Australia, Subcon and Curtin University, funded in part by recreational fishing licence fees. At the time it was described as the largest artificial reef deployed in Australian waters. It spreads 49 concrete reef modules and six large steel structures — some around 10 m tall — over about two acres of sand at 17 m in Exmouth Gulf.

The design goal was fish habitat, and it has worked: surveys and video since deployment show large numbers of fish, with corals and sponges establishing on the tall steel structures in particular. Expect aggregations of baitfish, trevally, snapper species, cod and emperor around the frames, with the concrete modules providing crevices for smaller reef fish and invertebrates. The sand between structures may hold rays and gulf macro life.

For divers it is an unusual site in the Exmouth area — a deep, structured artificial reef rather than a coral reef or pier. It is not on any operator's regular list, and fishing pressure means lines and lures on the structures are likely. Visibility in the gulf is variable and the site needs calm weather and a slack tide. It suits experienced, self-reliant divers with a private boat who want something different; for most visitors, the Navy Pier (when open) delivers the same big-fish-on-structure experience with a guide.

Information on this site as a dive is limited; treat the descriptions of marine life as indicative and check locally before planning.

Launch at Exmouth Marina (Mortimer Road, 2 km south of town; sealed ramps, trailer parking) or Bundegi boat ramp. The reef centre is at 21°54.938'S 114°11.235'E, about 6.5 km north-east of the marina — roughly 10–15 minutes in a trailer boat on a calm day. Anchor on sand well clear of the structures or leave a boat tender live, and descend a shot line onto the tallest steel frames.

There is no regular dive charter, so this is a private-boat or club dive.

Exmouth Gulf is protected from ocean swell but becomes rough quickly in easterly and south-easterly winds and the afternoon sea breeze. Tidal streams in the gulf are significant on springs; dive near slack water and on neap tides for the best visibility. Visibility is often 3–12 m and drops after wind.

Cyclone season November–April.

Descend the shot to the top of a steel structure (up to 10 m high), then drop to the base at around 17 m and circuit the frame before moving across to the concrete module field. Keep bottom time conservative at 17 m, stay within sight of the structures for navigation, and ascend the shot line with a safety stop at 5 m.

Recreational depth; plan no-stop limits for 17 m. Nitrox useful for longer bottom times.

No regular dive operator – private boat only. The reef was built primarily for recreational fishing; confirm current arrangements with Exmouth dive shops, who may run it on request.