The Pinnacles is one of the named sites of the Gneering Shoals. GoodDive describes it as three upright pinnacles in about 10 m, inhabited by batfish, trevally, butterflyfish, barracuda and plenty of wobbegong sharks. Weekend Notes places the Pinnacles within the inner reef system alongside Hanging Rock, Wobby (Nurse) Rock and Fairyland, and Scuba World includes it on its list of Mooloolaba reef sites. Scuba Diver Life names it among the core Sunshine Coast reef sites.

Pinnacles make easy, rewarding dives: each is a self-contained structure that can be circled, so navigation is simple, and they concentrate fish. Around the base, wobbegongs rest on the sand and rock ledges; on the sides, soft corals, sponges and the algae typical of the Sunshine Coast reefs host nudibranchs and small invertebrates; above, batfish, trevally and barracuda hang in the water. As on the rest of the Gneerings, turtles and rays are regular.

At around 10 m, bottom time is generous and the site suits beginners and photographers. Expect the sand at the base to be somewhat deeper than 10 m.

The site is visited as part of the Mooloolaba operators' rotation of reef sites and combines well with Hanging Rock or Coral Gardens on a double dive. When there is current running, the down-current side of each pinnacle gives shelter for divers and is where fish tend to gather, so plan to finish there.

Mooloolaba's dive boats leave from The Wharf on the Mooloolah River (Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba), about 1.5 hours' drive north of Brisbane via the Bruce Highway and Sunshine Motorway. Scuba World's shop is about 40 m from its boat, with 100+ free all-day parking spaces nearby; Sunreef departs from the same precinct. Boats run down the calm river, cross the Mooloolah River mouth beside Point Cartwright and head north-east to the reefs – about 15 minutes to the Inner Gneerings and Mudjimba Island.

Private boats can launch at the Mooloolaba (Parkyn Parade/Lions Park) ramps. Operators choose between sites on the day according to swell and current.

The Mooloolaba reefs are open-ocean sites with no shelter from the south-east trade winds or easterly swell. Operators generally cancel when winds exceed about 20 knots or swell makes the river-mouth crossing and moorings unsafe; they confirm trips by email and text around 3.30 pm the day before. Northerly winds (common on summer afternoons) also make the reefs choppy, so morning trips are more reliable.

Visibility averages about 12 m offshore (range 3-30 m) and is clearest after southerly winds and in winter; it drops after easterly blows and heavy rain. Winter (June-October) brings 19-21°C water, grey nurse sharks and humpback whales; summer (November-May) brings 25-27°C water, leopard sharks and lower visibility.

Descend near the pinnacles, circle each in turn at the base and work up their sides, then use the most prominent pinnacle as a reference for the safety stop.

Sunreef Mooloolaba – double reef dives most days, rotating between Mudjimba Island, Nurse Rock, Hanging Rock and Caves; Scuba World Mooloolaba – reef double dives rotating through the Gneering Shoals and Mudjimba sites; SubSurface Scuba – Sunshine Coast reef double dives.