Pixie Pinnacle is the Ribbon Reefs' signature pinnacle dive and one of the densest concentrations of life on the whole Great Barrier Reef. The bommie is small, only about 15 m across, and rises from 30 m to just below the surface between Ribbon Reefs No. 9 and 10. The classic dive is a slow spiral from base to top, and it is often done twice on a trip because there is too much to see in one go.

The top is covered in dense Acropora and swarmed by purple and orange anthias and sergeant majors. Between 5 and 8 m an overhang shelters large pink gorgonian fans and soft corals. Down the sides, numerous dark nooks hold lionfish, leafy scorpionfish, stonefish, pipefish, mantis shrimp, porcelain crabs and feather stars with commensal shrimps and squat lobsters. A torch reveals the flame file shell, the so-called disco clam, whose mantle edge flashes with light. Several anemonefish species live on the pinnacle, including Great Barrier Reef, pink, red-and-black and spinecheek.

Out in the blue, big-eye and blue-spotted trevally, chevron barracuda, unicornfish, fusiliers and batfish circle, and whitetip reef sharks and rays pass by. Flowery cod lurk deeper and female Maori wrasse visit. Black coral, lace coral and gorgonians grow on the lower flanks.

Mike Ball's photographers' guide recommends wide-angle in the middle of the day and macro in the morning or late afternoon, and says split shots are possible on most low tides. It suits intermediate divers comfortable with open-water ascents and a possible current.

Liveaboard only (or fly-dive via Lizard Island). Mike Ball Dive Expeditions' Spoilsport and Spirit of Freedom depart Cairns (Trinity Wharf / Marlin Marina) in the evening and steam north overnight, roughly 12–14 hours and 200–250 km, to reach the Ribbon Reefs by morning; some itineraries fly Cairns–Lizard Island (about one hour, scenic flight along the coast) and board or disembark there. Trips run 3–7 nights and include Pixie Pinnacle on almost every Ribbon Reef itinerary.

Divers enter by giant stride from the dive deck at the mooring and descend the mooring line. Boats moor nearby and it is often dived twice: once in the middle of the day for wide-angle and again early or late for macro.

The Ribbon Reefs sit on the edge of the continental shelf and take the full south-east trade wind from April to October. Lagoon-side moorings stay diveable in 20–25 knot SE winds, but reef-front sites and passes need lighter winds; liveaboards shelter behind the reefs overnight. September to December is usually calmest.

Tidal flow through the gaps between the Ribbons is strong on springs, so exposed pinnacles are timed for slack water. December to April brings rain, lower visibility and cyclone risk; box jellyfish and Irukandji are possible November to May. Pixie Pinnacle stands in open water and can have strong current when the tide runs; crews time it for slack water.

Descend to the base at 25–30 m for fans and flowery cod, then make a slow upward spiral around the pinnacle, checking overhangs with a torch for the flame file shell and macro life. Spend the last 15 minutes among the anthias and Acropora on top at 3–8 m, which doubles as the safety stop.

Mike Ball Dive Expeditions (Spoilsport) – Ribbon Reef and Coral Sea itineraries from Cairns, several departures a month; Spirit of Freedom – 3-, 4- and 7-night trips from Cairns/Lizard Island, weekly.