The dive site Friskies Pinnacle or North Eastern Pinnacle is an offshore rocky reef in the Roman Rock area of Simon's Bay in False Bay, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Friskies Pinnacle Halal Explorer

Image:Friskies Pinnacle Map.png|600px|upright=2|Map of the dive site at Friskies Pinnacles Roman Rambler and Castor rocks map.png|600px|upright=2|Map showing the position of Friskies Pinnacles in relation to the surrounding reefs

Friskies is one of a large group of reefs scattered around the area marked by the Roman Rock lighthouse. It is a short ride from Long Beach or the False Bay Yacht Club slipway. This is a newly explored and surveyed pinnacle, which has not been dived much in the past, if at all.

Position

• S34°10.778’ E018°27.822’ Friskies Pinnacle GPS -34.179633,18.4637A short distance to the east of the Castor Rock reefs. About 380 m at 266° magnetic to Roman Rock lighthouse
• S34°10.720’ E018°27.830’ Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Friskies Pinnacle|North Friskies Pinnacle GPS -34.178667,18.463833

This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2004). A permit is required. The site is entirely outside, but very close to the eastern border of the Boulders Restricted Zone.

Name

The name "Friskies" was given to the site by some of the divers on the first recorded dive trip to the reef, in appreciation of a particularly frisky young seal which accompanied the divers for some time.

Depth

Maximum depth is about 22 m. and the top of the pinnacle is about 12 m. (Average depth is likely to be about 15 m.

Visibility

Visibility will usually be much the same as at Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Castor Rock|Castor Rock reef

Topography

Friskies is a compact dive site comprising a small fairly steep pinnacle rising about 10m above the sand, surrounded by a boulders, some quite large, and with a more scattered group of large boulders to the immediate north-east. About 100 m slightly east of north from the main pinnacle there is a lower pinnacle known as North Friskies, with a small amount of lower reef to the east.

Geology: Pre-Cambrian granite of the Peninsula pluton, surrounded by sand.

Conditions

The site is exposed to winds from all directions, which, if strong, can whip the surface of the sea to a nasty chop, and can make the boat trip uncomfortable and wet. Also this makes it more difficult for the boat crew to keep track of the divers, though conditions a few metres below the waves may be quite pleasant. Windy conditions should be avoided, but are not a big problem if they develop during the dive. The site is reasonably protected from swells from the south west, but a strong south easterly wind will eventually produce a sea large enough to be a problem.

The site is usually at it's best in winter but there are also occasional opportunities during the rest of the year.

Muslim Friendly Travel TO Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Friskies Pinnacle

-34.17963|18.4637|width=|align=* Friskies Pinnacle}} Boat access only. 5.7 km from Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Miller's Point slipway|Miller's Point slipway, 3.6 km from Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Simon's Town jetty|Simon's Town jetty, or 3.5 km from Long Beach.

What to see in Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Friskies Pinnacle

Suggested Routes

The reef is quite small, and centred on the pinnacle. The boat will usually put down a shotline near to the top of the pinnacle, and this is an appropriate place to start and end the dive. The main part of the dive can be spent exploring the reef down to the sand, then slowly making your way back to the pinnacle.

Stay safe as a Muslim in Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Friskies Pinnacle

Hazards

No site specific hazards recorded.

Skills

No special skills required. The site is shallow enough for entry level divers.

Equipment

No special equipment required. A DSMB could be useful to indicate your position if you ascend away from the shot line.

Nearby

• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Livingstone Reef|Livingstone Reef GPS -34.176750,18.459520
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Target Reef|Target Reef GPS -34.176983,18.453767
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Castor Rock|Castor Rock - Northern Pinnacle GPS -34.178117,18.459833
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Castor Rock|Castor Rock - Central Pinnacle GPS -34.178667,18.460083
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Castor Rock|Wonders Pinnacle GPS -34.180167,18.460833
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Castor Rock|Roman's Rest GPS -34.180583,18.463417
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Roman Rock|Roman Rock GPS -34.18122,18.46007
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Roman Rock|Spider Crab Reef GPS -34.1815,18.457167
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Tivoli Pinnacles|Tivoli Pinnacles GPS -34.1815333,18.46275
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Rambler Rock|Rambler Rock North-east reefs GPS -34.181933,18.466600
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Rambler Rock|Rambler Rock North-west pinnacle GPS -34.182067,18.464983
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Rambler Rock|Rambler Rock Southern pinnacles GPS -34.183517,18.465300
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Dome Rock|Dome Rock GPS -34.185317,18.462933
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Rambler Rock|Hotlips Pinnacle) GPS -34.185767,18.468183

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