Dive Reports – November 2019
Take a look at our dive reports from November 2019! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in November 2019.
Dive Reports November 2019 – Table of Contents:
2nd November 2019 – Sharks and Turtles at South Solitary Island
Once the smoke had cleared at South Solitary Island we had some excellent conditions to blow some bubbles!!!
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall and dive two was a drift from Cleaner Station around to The Gamtry, both dives had loads to see from Nudibranchs and Lionfish, Bullrays and Grey Nurse Sharks and about 5-6 turtles during the drift from the top end.
Congratulations to Amanda and Adam who finished their PADI Open Water Course today
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 3m-10m
Dive Report by Lindsay
4th November 2019 – Start of the week South Sol
Today, 4th November 2019 we had a bit of a bouncy trip out due to yesterday’s windy conditions. Nonetheless, we we’re excited to get out for our first day’s diving of a new week.
Our first dive today was at Buchanans Wall. Unfortunately to start out our visibility was a little low. We saw Black Cod, Moray Eels, turtles and schools of bullseyes.
After our surface interval and morning tea, we ventured up to the top end.
All divers dropped in at Shark Gutters, where visibility was slightly better for dive number two. We saw two Grey Nurse Sharks, schooling fish, tarwhine, blue fusiliers, pomfreds. We also spotted down the wall a hawksbill turtle, and a lonely octopus on south boulder.
Curious about our local Coffs Harbour Dive Sites? Take a look here and get some more information about the places we like to spend our time and see our sea critters!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 5m-10m
Dive Report by Mike
7th November 2019 – Barney the Loggerhead welcomes divers
Manta Arch and the drift from Cleaner Station down to The Gantry was the pick of today, 7th November 2019 – dives at South Solitary Island!!
We had a huge variety of life to see on both dives including Grey Nurse Sharks, Bullrays, Black Cod, Orangutan Crabs in Shark Gutters, Nudibranchs, Lionfish, Green sea Turtles some near The Gap and our local Barney the Logger head Turtle coming out from a nap in Cleaner Station Cave.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C-19°C
- Visibility: 6m-8m
Dive Report by Lindsay
8th November 2019-North Solitary run today.
An early start to North Solitary Island today, 8th November 2019, gave way to some nice conditions at Anemone Bay. Dropping in at the Steps and moving into the bay, whilst visibility was not great, they were good enough to have a great dive with plenty to see. Everything from Grey Nurse Sharks to Clownfish in the carpets of Anemones across the bay.
Dive Two was decided to be in Fish Soup, which held up to it’s name. A surprise to us was a couple of Grey Nurse Sharks cruising through the myriads of fish varieties in the boulders. Our divers had so much to look at, although the visibility was reduced to 10 mtrs. Picture is a Grey Nurse coming in to see what is going on.
North Solitary Dive Trips are planned to be run during the summer months every weekend. It will however depend on sea conditions and numbers.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°c
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Mike
10th November 2019 – Sunday dive at South Solitary Island
Today, 10th November 2019, conditions at South Solitary Island had improved today from our dives earlier in the week. All certified divers dropped in at Manta arch and made their way to Cleaner Station, while the students descended on Shark Gutters.
There was a vast amount of marine life on both dives. Around Manta Arch, roughly half a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks were spotted, schools of Tarwhine and Silver Trevally.
As for Shark Gutters and Cleaner Station, more Grey Nurse Sharks were Spotted, Bullrays, Turtles, Lionfish and some Huge Wobbegong Sharks.
Congratulations to Greg on completing his Padi Open Water Diver Course, David on finishing his PADI Scuba Diving Course and Peter also completed his PADI Advanced Open Water course with his navigation on dive 2!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 10m
Dive Report by Andy
11th November 2019 – Monday’s are for Bullrays
With a lot of smoke around South Solitary Island today, 11th November 2019. South Solitary was not in sight for 80% of the journey but lucky Steve was at the helm and we made it after a smooth ride.
Both dives were at the northern end of the island as the southerly swell had kicked a little over night but it was by far the best location with lots to see and plenty of action, all the divers today had some epic experiences with Grey Nurse Sharks, Kingfish, and a large number of Bullrays!! We think on the second dive there was about 10-15 different Bullrays spread out from Cleaner Station down to South Boulder, must of been something in the water for them to all be out and active.
There was also a lot of Nudibranchs, on Nudi Wall, Barney the Loggerhead Turtle was napping in the Cave again and a couple Eagle Rays gliding in the shallows.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 6m-10m
Dive Report by Lindsay
15th November 2019 – Smokey South Solitary
Today, 15th November 2019, we had a slow trip out due to the low visibility from the smoke of NSW & queensland fires, but our divers were excited to breathe some fresh air under the waves.
For our first dive, all of our divers dropped in a Buchanan’s Wall. We saw a huge amount of wobbegongs, some lionfish, and a few turtles. And we even saw a reindeer wrasse!
On our surface interval and after morning tea, we heading up to the north end of South Solitary Island. Our certified divers descended to Shark Gutters, making their way over to The Gantry. Our students dropped in on The Gantry mooring. At least a dozen – (they claim 15!) Grey Nurse Sharks were spotted in the gutters. Also spotted down North Wall were turtles, tarwhine, trevally, bullseyes and blue fusiliers.
Congratulations to our PADI Open Water Divers who were certified today! Ramona, Ivana, Suannah, and Hugo!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 12m
Dive Report by Tara
16th November 2019 – Clear Skies At South Solitary Island
Both dives today, 16th November 2019, were at the Northern end of the island due to the wind coming from the south. All divers descended down Cleaner Station mooring for dive one, at least a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks were sighted, also Bullrays, Nudibranchs, Lionfish, Black cod were seen.
After our surface interval our Divers dropped in at Cleaner again and explored the Cave, Shark Gutters, and down the wall finishing at Shark Gutters. Again lots of marine life was seen
Turtles, schooling fish, Bull eyes Goatfish, Tarwhine, and a couple of Marble Rays courting.
Want to see more dive reports? Check them out here.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 10m
Dive Report by Tara
17th November 2019 – Blue Water At South Solitary Island
Today, 17th November 2019, we had a quick trip to South Solitary Island for our double dive.
For our first dive, all of our certified divers dropped in at Manta Arch and made their way to Cleaner Station, whilst our student divers descended on Cleaner Mooring.
All of our divers were amazed with the amount of marine life between Manta Arch and Cleaner! We saw at least twenty Grey Nurse Sharks, Octopus, Moray Eels, Turtles, and Fish everywhere.
After our brief surface interval, our divers made their way from Cleaner Station to the Gantry.
‘WOW’ – another spectacular dive featuring schools of Tarwhine, and Silver Trevally in the Cave. Also, about a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks were spotted in Shark Gutters.
To top it all of, down the wall were some Black cod, bull rays, Lionfish, and a couple of Eagle Rays.
Congratulations to Samuel and Sin Ping Chan (Fiona) on completing their Padi Open Water Diver Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Tara
20th November 2019 – Grey Nurse Sharks crowd Gutters
Today on the 20th November 2019, the southerly wind had picked up sooner than expected but at South Solitary Island the conditions up the northern end was pretty good for all our divers.
Dive one and two were both around Shark gutters and Cleaner Station, we had a lot of Grey Nurse Shark action here with the 3rd gutter having about 8-10 sharks swimming around the sandy patch.
There was a few Bullrays around Cleaner Station Cave, Turtles, Puffer Fish and plenty of beautiful little Nudibranchs throughout both dives.
Congratulations to Lucie and James who completed their PADI Discover Scuba Dive today!!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-20°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
28th November 2019 – Finally back in the water!
Today, Thursday 28th November 2019, we finally got back out to the Solitary Islands after a few days of bad weather.
Our first dive was at Shark Gutters, which lived up to its name. There was well over 10 Grey Nurse Sharks, in every direction! We saw a spanish dancer, and a lionfish in a cave. There was plenty of schooling fish, the usual culprits of tarwhine, but we saw some goatfish too.
We drifted a little bit wider around the island for our surface interval, as it was smoother for our divers.
For the second dive, we did a drift dive from shark gutters to south boulder. We found around 1/2 dozen sharks, some bullrays (one of which is pictured – thanks Dylan for the photo!) and some big wobbegong sharks. Down the wall we spotted heaps more marine life – including some turtles.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Tara
30th November 2019 – South Solitary Island Surprise Conditions
We knew there was going to be a bit of wind to battle with this morning on the way to South Solitary Island but once we arrived at Buchanan’s Wall the conditions were more than acceptable and that’s where we descended for dive one.
Dive two was decided a one way swim from Buchanan’s Wall to The Gantry as the northern end was far to rough from the NE wind, everyone had a great time on both these dives and seen loads. We had Wobbegongs, Bluetangs, Moray Eels and a very curious Grey Nurse Shark at Buchanan’s!! The Gantry offered a few sleepy turtles, Nudibranchs, Lionfish and a small Bullray posing with Megan near the end of the dive.
Congratulations to Damien and Scarlett who finished their Open Water Course today!!
Congratulations to Jared who completed his Peak Performance Buoyancy course too!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
