Meet the site
The Pinnacles are the underwater continuation of Cape Woolamai's pink granite, a cluster of steep-sided towers standing on a rocky floor at 38 m and reaching to within 9 m of the surface about 1.5 km off the cape. Visit Bass Coast describes them as two vertical spires; Scuba Doctor records a collection of large pinnacles, with a deep anchoring point and a summit that first-timers should sound for 15–20 m east of the main mark. Either way the topography is the attraction. The faces are close to vertical, split by chimneys and ledges, and because the site sits in clear Bass Strait water washed by Western Port's tidal outflow every surface is covered in colour: yellow zoanthids, orange and purple sponges, soft corals, sea whips and jewel anemones, with the deeper ledges carrying gorgonian fans. The bommies concentrate fish. Schools of butterfly perch, sweep and bullseyes hang off the walls, boarfish and morwong work the ledges, blue devils sit in the cracks, and there are enough crayfish in the deep base ledges that the site is also listed as a cray reef. Australian fur seals from the Cape Woolamai haul-out often visit divers on the summit, and in autumn kingfish and the odd sunfish pass through. Depth makes this an advanced dive – the summit alone is a comfortable 9–20 m circuit, but the character of the site is in dropping down the faces to the sand and working back up, which puts most profiles in the 25–35 m range and demands attention to gas and NDLs in cold water. The Pinnacles is generally considered the best scenic dive on Phillip Island and one of the best granite pinnacle dives in Victoria, comparable to the Prom's offshore islands but reachable in half an hour from Newhaven. Its limitation is weather: the cape takes the full Bass Strait swell and the bar at Newhaven has to be crossed twice.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
The Pinnacles (Cape Woolamai) is recorded as Pinnacle/Bommie in Phillip Island & Western Port. 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- 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.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
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 The Pinnacles (Cape Woolamai) 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 The Pinnacles (Cape Woolamai) 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
Sponge gardens, zoanthids and soft corals, gorgonians, sea whips, butterfly perch, sweep, bullseyes, boarfish, blue devils, morwong, southern rock lobster, Australian fur seals, kingfish, occasional sunfish
Location
Group of granite pinnacles rising from 38 m to 9 m about 1.5 km south-west of the tip of Cape Woolamai, off the south-east corner of Phillip Island in Bass Strait.
Facilities nearby
Newhaven boat ramp: sealed multi-lane ramp, jetty, trailer parking, toilets; fuel and food in Newhaven and San Remo; No air fills on Phillip Island; nearest fills on the Mornington Peninsula (Rye/Portsea) or in Melbourne's south-east
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.auvisitbasscoast.com.auscubadoctor.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.