Meet the site
Brown Head Pinnacle is a rock tower standing 100 m off the tip of Brown Head, the headland between Larkin Cove and Bare Back Cove, and it is the eastern Prom's bommie dive. Scuba Doctor lists it at 8–35 m and describes a pinnacle reaching within 8 m of the surface, with weed-covered shallows extending down to 20 m, levelling off at 25 m into a gently sloping boulder field covered in marine life, with butterfly perch in clouds and colourful invertebrate life in the deep sponge garden. The structure gives the dive a natural profile: descend the shot to the kelp-covered summit, circle down through the upper reef where the kelp gives way to coralline turf and the first sponges, and arrive at 25 m in the boulder field, where the granite is coated in the eastern Prom's deep-reef community – orange, yellow and purple sponges, zoanthid mats, gorgonians, sea whips, bryozoan lace and jewel anemones – with crayfish under the boulders. The perch clouds hang off the up-current face of the pinnacle, joined by sweep, bullseyes and boarfish, and the headland current that makes slack-water timing necessary is also what keeps the filter feeders so dense. Draughtboard sharks and blue devils use the boulder gaps. The pinnacle is a small site that can be circled several times in a dive, and its depth makes it the deep dive of this stretch of coast, paired with Larkin Cove or Bare Back Cove for a shallower second. Like everything here it is reached only by a long run from Port Welshpool in calm weather, and it is dived a few times a year at most.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Brown Head Pinnacle is recorded as Pinnacle/Bommie in Wilsons Promontory. The listed access is boat. Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is Brown Head Pinnacle suitable for my certification?
The record lists Deep/Advanced + experience. That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book Brown Head Pinnacle through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Butterfly perch, sweep, bullseyes, boarfish, sponge gardens, zoanthids, gorgonians and sea whips, bryozoans, jewel anemones, southern rock lobster, draughtboard sharks, blue devils, kelp
Location
Rock pinnacle about 100 m off the eastern tip of Brown Head, the headland between Larkin Cove and Bare Back Cove on the eastern side of Wilsons Promontory.
Facilities nearby
Departure from Tidal River beach ramp, Port Welshpool or Sandy Point; No air fills at Tidal River or Port Welshpool; the nearest compressor is roughly 100 km away (Melbourne's south-east or Inverloch/Leongatha area by arrangement) – bring all cylinders or a portable compressor
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
scubadoctor.com.auscubadoctor.com.auscubadoctor.com.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.