Meet the site
Darth Vader is the second named site on Pellowe Reef, and its name comes from the deep valleys that cut into the reef here. Cairns Dive Adventures explains that these valleys create a dark atmosphere, as the steep coral ridges on either side shade the floor of each gully and the light fades as you descend. The effect is dramatic, especially on a bright day when the reef top is sunlit and the valleys drop away into blue shadow. Pellowe as a whole is a small, isolated reef close to the continental shelf edge, visited only in suitable weather and consequently in good condition, with strong soft- and hard-coral cover and excellent visibility. Pro Dive Cairns rates it novice to intermediate with moderate currents and depths of 5-30 m, and highlights large pelagic fish, chevron barracuda and nudibranchs. In the valleys the walls are decorated with soft corals, sea fans and sponges that prefer shade, and the gullies funnel current, drawing in schools of fish. Look up and out into the blue for trevally, barracuda and reef sharks, and along the walls for moray eels, octopus and nudibranchs. Napoleon wrasse and bull rays have been reported on Pellowe. Because the valleys encourage divers to follow them down, depth control matters here, and the site is best for divers with some experience. Published detail is limited to the operator summaries, so the route will depend on the guide's briefing on the day. It pairs naturally with Cucumber Alley on a calm-weather Pellowe day, giving a wall and a valley dive on the same small reef.
What you might see
Chevron barracuda, trevally, reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, bull rays, moray eels, octopus, nudibranchs, soft corals, sea fans, sponges
Location
Site on Pellowe Reef, about 60 km east-south-east of Cairns near the continental shelf edge, named for deep valleys that create a dark, shadowy atmosphere.
Facilities nearby
Departs Reef Fleet Terminal / Marlin Marina, Cairns: toilets, cafes, paid parking; dive gear, tanks and lunch supplied on board
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
cairnsdiveadventures.com.auprodivecairns.comdive-the-world.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.