Take a look at our dive reports form June 2015! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in June 2015.

Table of Contents


7TH JUNE 2015 – CLEAR WATER PUSHING INTO SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND

The Sun greeted us this morning as we made our way out to South solitary island for a double dive.
Dive one was at Shark Gutters where our divers seen a lot of wobbygongs on the bottom, one juvenile Grey Nurse Shark in the shallows and plenty of tiny critters in Cleaner station cave.
Soup, tea, coffee and snacks done and dusted dive two was a drift from Shark Gutters to South Boulder. Two turtles were seen near the 3rd gutter and it looked like fish soup on boulder wall!!! Our divers also got up close with one of the LARGE local Black Cod out at the island and some were lucky enough to see the beautiful Blue Angelfish near the mooring.

Conditions Report:
  • Slight roll out wide, not much wind
  • 7 knots wsw
  • Temperature: 20°C
  • Visibility: 10m-12m

Dive Report by Lindsay

Blue Angelfish at South Solitary Island by Jetty Dive
Blue Angelfish

Grey Nurse with Rope South Solitary Island

8TH JUNE 2015 – GREY NURSE SHARKS ARE ON THE MOVE

Wild Fin was full today with some very keen divers to go and get wet!!
Dive one had all the certified divers in at Manta Arch while the Open Water divers got in at Cleaner Station. Grey Nurse Sharks were seen at both dive sites and Mike got this quick video of this poor female Grey Nurse shark with a rope around its tail, as you can see it is getting badly infected and we are in the process of sorting a way to get it off.
Dive 2 was a relaxing drift from Cleaner Station down to The Gantry where a few divers seen an Eagle Ray glide over top a Grey Nurse Shark, 6 Black Cod on the Wall, a Mantis Shrimp near the Gap and a curious Octopus in The Gantry.

Conditions Report:
  • Choppy up top end
  • 9 NNW wind
  • Temperature: 20°C
  • Visibility: 10m-12m

Dive Report by Lindsay


13TH JUNE 2015 – GREY NURSE SHARK GALORE

We ventured out to South Solitary Island this morning for a double dive and it was a little hard to get excited due to the chilly mornings we have been having.
Dive one had all the certified divers drop in to Manta Arch where around 20 Grey Nurse Sharks were waiting patiently. The Open Water Students hopped in at Cleaner Station where they too seen a Grey Nurse Shark!! Turtles, Black Cod, and Lionfish were just some of the things seen on that dive.
Dive two was at Shark gutters where big schools of Kingfish, Pomfeds, Surgeon fish were thick as soup. The Students spotted a Green Sea Turtle sleeping in the third gutter and lots of Wobbygongs swimming around
Congratulations to Ana who became a PADI Open Water Diver Today!!!

Conditions Report:
  • Slight chop, lumpy trip home
  • Temperature: 20°C
  • Visibility: 12m-15m
  • Mild current

Dive Report by Lindsay

At least 12 Grey Nurse Sharks in frame, with the ocean floor and blue water behind.
Grey Nurse Sharks

Grey Nurse Sharks Manta Arch South Solitary Island
Grey Nurse Sharks Manta Arch South Solitary Island by Jetty Dive

14TH JUNE 2015 – 35M VISIBILITY AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND

ITS BACK!!!!
Blue, clear water has made its way in to South Solitary Island finally. Dive one was at Manta Arch where all the Grey Nurse had moved a lot deeper due to the very clear water, a big beautiful Eagle Ray and some large Black Cod were also seen at the Arch.
Dive two was at Cleaner Station where the visibility was amazing!! Massive schools of fish about, turtles swimming high in the current and also some on the bottom having lunch. Schools of King Fish and Travelly out in numbers and 3 Lion fish in Cleaner Cave. Congratulations to Joe, Jak, Meghan and David who finished their PADI Open Water Ticket today!!!

Conditions Report:
  • Good roll out wide not much wind.
  • Temperature: 20°C – 21°C
  • Visibility: 30-35m

Dive Report by Lindsay


16TH JUNE 2015 – ORARA HIGH SCHOOL FIRST EVER SCUBA DIVES

Seven Orara High School students geared up today for their first two dives of the Open Water Course, we went to South Solitary Island although there was a bit of a roll everyone had a great time.
We dropped in at The Gantry for dive one where we seen a few Wobbygongs and lots of Anemone fish!!
Dive two was a drift from Cleaner Station around to The Gantry where Boulder wall was like a busy intersection!!! Jew Fish, Tarwhine, Kingfish, Surgeon Fish, Eagle Rays, BIG male Grey Nurse Shark and a mantis shrimp spotted near the Gap. Awesome day!!!

Conditions Report:
  • E Breeze 8 Knts, 1.6m Swell
  • Temperature: 20°C-21°C
  • Visibiliy: 12 – 15m

Dive Report by Lindsay

Grey Nurse Shark 2 South Solitary Island 29 December 2014 by Jetty Dive
Grey Nurse Shark (L Devery 2014)

Cuttlefish underwater with a diver behind the focus of the frame at South Solitary Island
Giant Cuttlefish

24TH JUNE 2015 – GIANT CUTTLEFISH POSES FOR DIVERS AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND

Not a better way to break up the week than with a dive at South Solitary Island!
Taking advantage of the calm conditions, our divers jumped in at Manta Arch for the first dive of the day. On this dive, our divers counted more than 30 Grey Nurse Sharks cruising around the Manta Arch area, we also spotted a school of Batfish and a school of Cowtail Rays.
Today’s 2nd dive was everyone’s favorite drift from Shark Gutters to the Gantry. More Grey Nurse Sharks, Lionfish, schooling Kingfish and to our pleasant surprise a Giant Cuttlefish who was spotted hovering along South Boulder Wall. It has been two years since we have seen a Giant Cuttlefish at South Solitary Island, whether this to due to climate change or a decline in numbers we do not know. Great to see these amazing creatures at South once again!

Conditions Report:
  • Temperature: 20°C
  • Visibility: 15m-20m

Dive Report by Andy


28TH JUNE 2015 – 70 GREY NURSE SHARKS AND 35M VISIBILITY AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND TODAY!

Today was one of those magic days when you say to yourself, I’m so happy to be going diving! The water at South Solitary Island was so clear you could quite easily make out Manta Arch from the surface, that is if you could see past the 70 odd Grey Nurse Sharks patrolling the bottom.  Barney, our resident Logger Head Turtle, was also out and about today, just happy to mix in on the action!
The northern end of the island was exploding with life! More Grey Nurse, Eagle Rays, Black Cod, Lionfish, huge schools of Tarwhine, Sweep and Bat Fish were all spotted by our divers today!

Conditions Report:
  • Temperature: 21°C
  • Visibility: 35m

Dive Report by Andy

Grey Nurse sharks and Debbie at South Solitary Island 28 June 2015 by Jetty Dive
Grey Nurse sharks and Debbie at South Solitary Island 28 June 2015 by Jetty Dive

Grey Nurse Shark at South Solitary Island 29 June 2015 by Jetty Dive
Grey Nurse Shark at South Solitary Island 29 June 2015 (L Devery 2015)

29TH JUNE 2015 – GREY NURSE SHARKS SWAMP SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND

Yet another spectacular days diving at South Solitary Island.
The visibility was still a crystal clear 30-35m and a nice 21C water temperature, 3 different people came back to the boat and said there was easily 50-70 Grey Nurse Sharks at Manta Arch. Winter diving at its best!!!
After Soup, tea and coffee was handed out at the surface interval, dive 2 was a drift from Cleaner Station down to South Boulder, the marine life on that dive was insane, you had to push your way through it!!!.. everything from Black Cod, Grey Nurse Sharks, Bullrays, Lionfish, Turtles, Bullseyes, Tarwhine and much much more.
Congratulations to Isaac, Lachlan and Josh who today were certified as Open Water Divers!!!

Conditions Report:
  • Temperature: 21°C
  • Visibility: 30m-35m
  • Current: Mild

Dive Report by Lindsay


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