The Pinnacles, at Pinnacle Bay on the north-east of Hook Island, is regularly named among the best snorkelling in the Whitsundays. 100 Magic Miles, the long-standing cruising guide to the islands, describes near-solid coral cover in shallow water, predominantly staghorn, breaking up into scattered but dense bommies from 5 to 18 m, with some of the best snorkelling in the islands just off the western beach. The bommies are large – massive Porites domes and tiered Acropora colonies – and some rise nearly to the surface, which makes the site visually striking from above and gives divers a landscape of towers and valleys to explore. Medium-sized fish are plentiful, and Maori wrasse are regular visitors.

From May to September manta rays feed in the area, as at nearby Manta Ray Bay. Like its neighbours, the Pinnacles was hit by Cyclone Debbie in 2017. The large bommies generally survived where branching coral was smashed, and the site has been recovering.

It remains on operators' regular rotation for both diving and snorkelling. The Pinnacles is open to northerly winds and swell and to strong south-easterlies, so it is not always diveable, and operators choose between the northern Hook sites daily. When conditions allow, it is an easy, rewarding dive for all levels, with the best structure between 5 and 15 m.

It lies in a Marine National Park green zone with public moorings and no-anchoring areas. For snorkellers, the shallow coral close to the beach is the main attraction; for divers, the field of bommies.

Boat only. Northern Hook Island is about 22–28 nautical miles from Airlie Beach – roughly 45–75 minutes by fast day boat from Coral Sea Marina or Port of Airlie, or about 1 hour from Hamilton Island marina. Day tours that stop here include Ocean Rafting, Red Cat Adventures (Thundercat), Whitsunday Dive Adventures and Explore Group (from Airlie and Hamilton Island); overnight sailing and bareboat charters also visit.

Private and bareboat skippers must use the public moorings (time-limited, first come first served) and observe no-anchoring areas marked by reef protection markers; bareboat operators restrict where hirers may go. Parking at Airlie is available near Coral Sea Marina and the Port of Airlie.

The northern Hook Island bays face north and are sheltered from the dominant south-east trades (15–25 knots April–September), but they are open to northerly winds and swell (common October–March) and to very strong south-easterlies that wrap around the headlands. Tidal currents through the islands are strong on spring tides (tidal range up to about 4 m) and can make points and bay entrances difficult – plan dives at slack water and neap tides where possible. Visibility is usually 5–15 m, dropping after strong winds, big tides and wet-season rain.

Manta rays visit May–September. Marine stinger season (box jellyfish and Irukandji) runs roughly November to May – wear a full-length stinger suit or wetsuit with hood and gloves, carry vinegar. Cyclone season November–April; tropical lows and cyclones can close sites and damage coral (TC Yasi 2011, TC Debbie 2017).

Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie (March 2017) badly damaged the fringing reefs of northern Hook and Hayman islands; recovery is ongoing. 100 Magic Miles notes the site is open to northerlies and strong south-easterlies.

Descend off the western beach reef edge, weave among the large Acropora and Porites bommies at 5–18 m, keeping the reef on one side, and finish in the shallow near-solid coral for the safety stop and snorkel.

Ocean Rafting (Northern Exposure/Southern Lights – daily snorkel stops on northern Hook), Red Cat Adventures Thundercat (daily, Mantaray Bay/Stonehaven), Whitsunday Dive Adventures (certified and Discover Scuba day trips, several times a week), Explore Group (dive and snorkel from Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island, daily), plus overnight sailing vessels and bareboats.