The Pinnacles

The Pinnacles is a collection of rocky pinnacles, ledges, steep walls, and rocky reefs located in Cornwall, UK, rising from a maximum depth of 40 m up to as shallow as 5 m in places. The site is boat access only, and can only be dived in calm weather due to exposure to swell and strong currents that make conditions uncomfortable or dangerous otherwise. It is considered an advanced dive.

The terrain is dramatic, with the pinnacles almost completely covered in jewel anemones in every colour — blues, yellows, greens, oranges, and pinks. Looking closely into the anemones reveals skeleton shrimps and tiny amphipods. Pink sea fans, a cold-water coral species, are one of the main attractions on the site, and the rare anemones and sea slugs that inhabit them are worth seeking out. The site offers strong macro and super-macro photographic potential.

Currents at The Pinnacles can be very strong, and the site is rated as advanced. Swell can make for an uncomfortable dive, and it should only be attempted in calm conditions.