The Pinnacles, also called the Twins after the two rock heads that break the surface, is the best-documented ocean dive between Long Reef and Barrenjoey, and one that almost nobody does because it needs a flat sea and a boat. Bangalley Head is the tall, bush-covered headland between Whale Beach and Avalon, and off its tip the sandstone has collapsed into a chaos of house-sized boulders standing on a shelving reef. The dive starts on the north-western side over gentle reef with small boulders and kelp at 8–12 m, which is where the weedy sea dragons are usually found.

Moving south-east the bottom steepens and the boulders grow into the Pinnacles proper, reaching from about 18 m up to 5 m and, in two places, above the surface. Between them are swim-throughs and small caves, some ending in sand-floored rooms lit from cracks above. Nothing here is deep: 18 m is the maximum anywhere on the site, and most of the interest is between 8 and 14 m, which makes it a useful contrast to the 40 m-plus wrecks that dominate Northern Beaches boat diving.

Fish life is strong on calm days with bream, trevally, sea pike, yellowtail, red morwong and big-eyes in the shade, and the standout is the silver sweep, present in enormous numbers over the boulders. Wobbegongs sit outside the cave mouths. The rock faces carry sponges in the shaded gaps and kelp on the tops.

Michael McFadyen's account of a 60-minute drift here on a millpond day describes a first-rate reef dive that ended only when wind and surge arrived, and that is the site's nature: it is excellent when the ocean allows and unavailable most of the time. It suits Open Water divers with drift experience and their own boat, Pittwater club members, and photographers wanting big-boulder scenery in shallow, bright water. Combine it with the Valiant for a Palm Beach day.

Boat only. The nearest ramps are on Pittwater – Careel Bay (Avalon) and Bayview – from which it is a 20–30 minute run north past Palm Beach, around Barrenjoey and 5 km south down the ocean side to Bangalley Head; Sydney charters from Manly take about an hour north. The pinnacle that breaks the surface off the point marks the site.

In calm conditions boats drop divers to the north-west of the point (entry mark 33°37.44'S 151°20.64'E WGS84) and follow bubbles as they drift south-east; otherwise anchor in 10–12 m on the reef.

Bangalley Head is fully exposed to south-easterly and easterly swell and sits in the surf zone; the site is only diveable when the sea is close to flat (under 1 m) because the pinnacles reach the surface and the shallow reef becomes a wash zone. Wind can rise during the dive and create surge quickly, which is why it is dived as a drift with the boat following. Best on winter mornings with a westerly.

Visibility is generally good in calm weather, dirtier after north-easterly blows and rain.

Enter north-west of the point over gently sloping reef at 8–12 m, where sea dragons live in the kelp, and drift south-east with the boat following. The reef becomes a jumble of huge boulders rising to 5 m – the Pinnacles – with swim-throughs and small caves between them; weave through, keeping the boulders on the left, and continue around the point. Ascend on a DSMB after about 60 minutes or when surge builds.

No regular operator. Historically run by Scuba Shack charters; now Pittwater private boats, club trips and occasional Sydney Dive Charters northern excursions.