This archive contains natural coral reef topography data from the northern coast of Mo’orea, French Polynesia. These data were used to compute reef roughness density using obstacle- and surface-based estimates and models, and to compare the two approaches for representing reef topography. Primary support for this product came from the National Science Foundation Physical Oceanography program (OCE-1435530 and OCE-1435133), and as well as Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Grant No. OCE 16-37396 (and earlier awards) as well as a generous gift from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Research was completed under permits issued by the French Polynesian Government (Délégation à la Recherche) and the Haut-commissariat de la République en Polynésie Francaise (DTRT) (Protocole d'Accueil 2005-2019). This work represents a contribution of the Moorea Coral Reef (MCR) LTER Site.