Meet the site
The Pinnacle sits off the north-eastern corner of Fish Rock as a genuine twin-peaked submerged mountain, its shoulders dropping from 30-35 m on the sand to two summits at around six and eight metres — shallow enough that the swell can be felt on top on a big day. A sand gutter separates it from the main island, and its southern flank funnels current straight into Colorado Pass, which is why the two sites are usually dived as one long circuit on flat, low-current days. For roughly 80% of the year Fish Rock runs a current from the north strong enough to make the Pinnacle a hard, sometimes dangerous dive; the reward for waiting for a calm window, or diving it as a drift, is one of the richest single dives on the NSW coast. Grey nurse sharks — often twenty to thirty of them — hold in the sand gutter beneath the peaks, and a shallow ledge at about sixteen metres, nicknamed the Turtle Cradle, is a reliable resting spot for green and loggerhead turtles. The structure itself is worth the dive without the animals: the eastern face falls away as a sheer wall from the surface, plastered with sponges and gorgonians, while the western and southern slopes are broken into boulders, gutters and low ridges that hold huge crayfish and ornate and spotted wobbegongs, some of the biggest seen anywhere at Fish Rock. Bannerfish and southern fusiliers school in loose clouds over the top, giant Queensland gropers cruise the deeper margins, and in the warmer months hammerhead sharks and Spanish mackerel have been recorded passing through on the current lines. This is an advanced dive: the depth range, the exposure to current and the distance from the mooring mean it suits confident, experienced divers with good air consumption rather than a first Fish Rock outing, but on the right day it is arguably the pick of all the Fish Rock sites.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Fish Rock – The Pinnacle is recorded as Pinnacle/Bommie in South West Rocks. 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.
- 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 Fish Rock – The 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 Fish Rock – The 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
Grey nurse sharks (20-30+), giant Queensland groper, ornate and spotted wobbegongs, green and loggerhead turtles, eagle rays, southern fusiliers, bannerfish, occasional hammerheads (summer)
Location
A twin-peaked submerged pinnacle rising from 30-35 m to about 6-8 m off the north-eastern corner of Fish Rock, linked to the main island by a sand gutter and to Colorado Pass on its southern side.
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
michaelmcfadyenscuba.infofishrock.com.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.