Carmel Pinnacles State Marine Reserve, Marine reserve in Carmel Bay, California, US.

Carmel Pinnacles State Marine Reserve is a protected marine area in Carmel Bay on the central California coast, built around granite rock formations and underwater reefs. These rocky structures support dense kelp forests and sit near deep submarine canyons that drop sharply below the surface.

The reserve was established in 2007 as part of a statewide effort to protect marine habitats along the California coast. It was created together with a series of other marine protected areas along the central coast at the same time.

The reserve's name comes from the underwater granite pinnacles at its centre, which rise beside a kelp forest, a submarine canyon head and surfgrass beds. Since 2007 all fishing and removal of living marine resources has been banned within its 0.53 square miles, so the site is studied rather than harvested. Researchers from Hopkins Marine Station, UC Santa Cruz, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo survey it by hook and line, intertidal walks, scuba and ROV.

Fishing and taking any living marine resource are prohibited throughout the reserve, so collecting, spearfishing and removing kelp or shells are not allowed. The 0.53-square-mile area lies in Carmel Bay off Carmel-by-the-Sea, near Monterey. Scientists survey it by hook-and-line sampling, intertidal and scuba diver surveys, and remotely operated vehicles, so expect research activity in the water.

Remotely operated underwater vehicles are regularly sent into the deep reefs here to record species living too far down for divers to reach. This work has revealed creatures and behaviors in this area that were not previously known to scientists.