100 Magic Miles calls the Woodpile 'the best wall dive in the Whitsunday islands', and it is the deepest of the Hook Island fringing sites in the guide's listing. The rock wall drops from about 5 m to 30 m, with visibility of 4–15 m. Its signature feature is large black coral trees growing at 10–15 m – unusually shallow for black coral, which normally favours deeper, darker water – along with soft corals and large Porites bommies.

The name presumably refers to the tumbled, stacked rock of the wall, and the combination of rock, black coral 'trees' and soft coral gives the dive a quite different look from the coral gardens of the northern bays. Black coral bushes attract gobies and small fish, and the wall face holds crevices for crayfish and eels, while pelagic fish may pass along the drop. Snorkelling is not suitable here; this is a divers' site.

At 30 m maximum, it suits Advanced divers, although much of the interest lies within 20 m, and Open Water divers can enjoy the upper wall with a guide. Like Alcyonaria Point and the Pinnacles, it is exposed to northerlies and strong south-easterlies, so operators visit it only on suitable days. The Woodpile's exact location on Hook Island is not published in the sources reviewed, and there is no specific report of Cyclone Debbie's effect on the black coral, so check with operators on current condition.

For experienced divers in the Whitsundays wanting more than a shallow bay, it is the island group's premier wall.

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: exposed to northerlies and strong south-easterlies.

Descend the wall to the black coral trees at 10–15 m and below, go no deeper than planned (the wall continues to 30 m), travel along the face, then ascend slowly past the soft corals and Porites bommies to the top for a safety stop.

Whitsunday Dive Adventures and Explore Group certified-diver trips when conditions suit; private charters. Nearest dive centres for gear hire, fills and local advice: Whitsunday Dive Adventures, Explore Group, Ocean Rafting, Red Cat Adventures, Cruise Whitsundays.