The Pinnacles – Dive Pacific calls them Deep Pinnacle and The Pinnacle – are twin coral pinnacles on Great Detached Reef that rise from around 60 m to within 4 m and 14 m of the surface respectively. Dive Pacific describes them as a highlight of a Spirit of Freedom far-north expedition. Pinnacles rising from deep water on the edge of the continental shelf act as magnets for pelagic life.

Current sweeps around them, bringing plankton and schooling fish, which in turn attract predators. The pinnacle walls are covered in gorgonian fans, soft corals and whip corals, and the tops support hard corals and reef fish. Dive Pacific records silvertip sharks, barracuda schools and whale sharks among the trip's sightings.

The depth is the key consideration. With the base at 60 m, the pinnacles extend far beyond recreational limits, and divers must plan carefully. Most will descend to 25–30 m on the flanks before spiralling up.

The shallower pinnacle, with its top at 4 m, provides a perfect place for a long safety stop among reef fish. Current can run strongly around the pinnacles, so divers need to be comfortable in moving water and able to stay close to the structure. The site suits experienced divers with deep diving certification.

For those with the skills, the Pinnacles offer a classic big-animal dive in one of the most remote parts of the reef. Getting here is itself an expedition: the far-northern reefs lie hundreds of kilometres north of Cairns, are visited by only a handful of liveaboards in the October–December window, and are many hours from medical help, so divers should be current, self-sufficient, carry an SMB and audible signal, and dive conservatively.

Liveaboard only – there are no day boats, resorts or public moorings this far north. Mike Ball Dive Expeditions' Spoilsport runs 7-night 'Northern Exposure' expeditions between Cairns (Trinity Wharf) and Horn Island in the Torres Strait each November (northbound and southbound, up to 27 dives), plus a 7-night Far North Coral Sea Exploratory round trip from Cairns in October. Spirit of Freedom runs 7-night far-north expeditions from Cairns in October–December, and Professional Dive Services' MV Kalinda has run longer (13-night) Cairns–Horn Island trips.

Horn Island has daily scheduled flights to Cairns (book separately; allow 24 hours after diving before flying). The far-northern reefs are roughly 500–650 km north of Cairns – one to two days' steaming each way.

The far-northern reefs are only diveable in a narrow weather window. The south-east trades blow hard from about April to September and make the long open-water passage and the exposed outer walls impractical, so expeditions run in the transition period, typically October–December, when winds are lighter; the northerly monsoon, storms and cyclones (December–April) close the season. Even in the window, exposed shelf-edge walls (Tijou, Great Detached, Raine) need calm days, and skippers switch between reefs to find shelter.

Strong tidal currents and upwellings run along the continental shelf and through reef openings – channel sites are timed to slack water. Visibility varies from about 12 m to 40 m+ depending on tides and any rain. Marine stingers are present from November.

Descend onto the shallower pinnacle (top ~4 m) and drop down its flank to your planned maximum (no deeper than 30 m for most), then cross to the deeper pinnacle (top ~14 m) if current allows. Spiral up the shallower pinnacle for a long safety stop on its top.

Base of pinnacles at ~60 m is beyond recreational limits – plan a recreational profile (max 30–40 m depending on certification); nitrox (EANx28–32) with MOD checked; strict NDL management.

Liveaboard only: Mike Ball Dive Expeditions (Spoilsport – 7-night Northern Exposure Cairns↔Horn Island, November; 7-night Far North Coral Sea Exploratory, October); Spirit of Freedom (7-night far-north expeditions, October–December); Professional Dive Services MV Kalinda (occasional long expeditions). Requirements typically Advanced certification or 15+ logged ocean dives.