Dive Reports – April & May 2020
Take a look at our dive reports from April & May 2020! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in April & May 2020.
Dive Reports April & May 2020 – Table of Contents:
19th April 2020 – Shore Diving Mutton Bird Island
With no charters operating at all for us here at Jetty Dive Centre we planned up the mega of all Shore Dives!!
We had buddies organised to come get gear if needed and they all walked down North Wall with snorkeling gear, from there they hopped in the water near Mutton Bird Island, as they were doing this 2Wild had the boat full with all the scuba gear and made its way around to the same area of Mutton Bird Island and off loaded everyone’s equipment for them when they arrived. Once the buddy teams finished their dives they passed the gear back to the boat and snorkeled back to the exit area and walked back to their cars!!
This all worked very smoothly and Social Distancing was of course the high priority.
Underwater there was lots to see including Turtles, Stingrays, Octopus, Nudibranchs, a single Grey Nurse shark which had rope around it unfortunately, Cuttlefish, Hermit Crabs and believe it or not but 4-5 people got up close with a 3.5m Great Hammer Head Shark!!! Amazing.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C-23°C
- Visibility: 10m-12m
Dive Report by Lindsay
20th April 2020 – Big Bull Ray at Cleaner Station!
Today on 20th of April 2020, we took 2 wild on a leisure trip to South Solitary for a dive.
For our first dive, we descended onto Manta Arch. Here we found some eels, lionfish, and at least 7 Grey Nurse Sharks. There were a couple of octopus, and some Green Sea turtles, along with a stingray. A couple of Wobbegongs were tucked away under rocks, and there was a lonely black cod hanging about towards the end.
On our second dive, we took Cleaner Station. Straight up we saw a Green Sea Turtles, and later a hawksbill turtle in quite the rush. There were plenty of lionfish on this dive, heaps of black cod, nudibranches, and two adorable tiny boxfish – one yellow, and one orange. Towards the end of our dive, a huge Bull Ray sauntered through!
Conditions Report:
Water Temperature: 23
Visibility: 15m
Conditions Report:
- Temperature:
- Visibility:
Dive Report by Tara
21st April 2020 – Shore Dive Report
Today, 21st April 2020, we took out Wild Fin as a gear station to assist our shore divers in another shore dive off Muttonbird Island!
Off Muttonbird Island a variety of beautiful fishlife was seen, from Yellow Tails to Eastern Blue Groupers. There were some playful octopus collecting shells and some lionfish. We spotted Wobbegong Sharks and some gorgeous stingrays. There was also some Nudibranches (featured in today’s image – taken by Lani Croft on her first time using that camera!)
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 10m-12m
Dive Report by Tara
22nd April 2020 – Shore Diving At Muttonbird Island
Conditions at Muttonbird Island were fantastic this morning calm sea and clear water, all divers made there own way into the water to collect their dive gear from the boat station.Diving in pairs all groups saw lots of the smaller critters you see when shore diving.Small Wobbegong Sharks, a Blind Shark, Octopus, and small schools of Bull eyes were spotted. Also seen were lots of different rays, the Fiddler Ray, Eagle Ray, and lots of Sand Rays.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 10m
Dive Report by Andy
24th April 2020 – Another Beautiful Muttonbird Day!
Today on 24th April 2020 we set out for an assissted Shore Dive off of Muttonbird Island. We loaded up 2 Wild with our Diver’s gear and steamed around to the northern side of Muttonbird Island. Our customer’s climbed down the end of North Wall and snorkelled to our boat to collect their gear – one by one. The surface conditions were spectacular – A beautiful day for a shore dive!
Today Lindsay was running a private, one-on-one Open Water Course with Lucy, completing the confined water aspect in the Marina before heading to Muttonbird for Dive 1 of her course.
There was plenty to see at Muttonbird Island today! Spotted was a Grey Nurse Shark, a few playful Octopus, Wobbegongs and a Juvenile Shovel Nose Shark (Otherwise known as a Shovel Nose Ray), and a Fiddler Ray. There was a Juvenile Sweet Lip on the dives as well – pictured in today’s image!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 10m
Dive Report by Mike
25th April 2020 – Anzac Day Shore Dive
Today on Saturday 25th April 2020 – Anzac Day – we set out for an assissted Shore Dive off of Muttonbird Island. We loaded up Wild Fin with our Diver’s gear and steamed around to the northern side of Muttonbird Island. Our customer’s climbed down the end of North Wall and snorkelled to our boat to collect their gear – one by one.
On our shore dive today our divers saw plenty of octopus, a pair of Eagle Rays, and some Wobbegongs. There were some Juvenile GoatFish, a lonely Grey Nurse, some Estuary Catfish, and a Grouper.
Today’s Dive Report image is of a beautiful Nudibranch – taken by Lindsay today!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 8m-10m
Dive Report by Mike
27th April 2020 – Muttonbird Monday Shoredive
Today on the 27th of April 2020, we set out for an assissted Shore Dive off of Muttonbird Island. We loaded up Wild Fin with our Diver’s gear and steamed around to the northern side of Muttonbird Island. Our customer’s climbed down the end of North Wall and snorkelled to our boat to collect their gear – one by one.
On today’s trip we saw a small turtle and some wobbegongs. There was plenty of octopus, and a Blue Grouper – along with a large Guitar Shark. There were also some Red Rock Cod – which is featured in today’s photo!
Congratulations to Lucy and Matt for completing their Open Water Diver Course today, and Lauren for completing her Scientific Diver Course! Great job guys.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 8m-10m
Dive Report by Tara
2nd May 2020 – Muttonbird Island Goodness
The wind from the North West made surface conditions a little choppy but once underwater it was quite pleasant.
There was lots to see including Octopus, Nudibranchs, Goatfish, Morish Idols, a single Grey Nurse Shark, Turtles, Stingrays and a huge Eastren Blue Groper.
File photo taken by Sarah Devery
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C-21°C
- Visibility: 5m-8m
Dive Report by Lindsay
7th May 2020 – Sweet Lil South Sol
Today Mike, Deb, and Tara jetted out to South Solitary Island for a quick dive before work.
After hopping into the water at Manta Arch, a large group of Grey Nurse’s were spotted in the Arch, behind a hawksbill Turtle having a snack on some of the rocks in front.
There was plenty of fishlife to be seen circling above us including Scads, we saw some nudibranchs, Morish Idols, Old Wives, Red Moorwongs, and a few wobbegongs!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Tara
13th May 2020 – Pimpernel Rock
We had Wildfin running the the shore dives this morning while 2Wild steamed north all the way to Pimpernel Rock to carry out a Grey Nurse Shark and Black Cod survey!
The Mutton Bird shore dives had lots to see including Nudibranchs, Blue Gropers, Octopus and some cute little Squid.
Pimpernel Rock never disappoints!! We had 13-16 Grey Nurse Sharks (most of them males) and there were 6 Black Cod counted. We had massive schools of Kingfish and Travelly swimming around the peak of the rock, Lionfish, 3 spotted Eagle Rays, Nudibranchs, Eels and much more!!
Photo taken today at Pimpernel Rock of the Grey Nurse Sharks in the cave.
Mutton Bird Conditions:
Vis – 8-10m
Temp 21C
Pimpernal Conditions:
Vis – 15-20m
Temp 21C
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: Muttonbird: 8m-10m, Pimpernal: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Tara
17th May 2020 – Too rough for South Solitary- Great at Muttonbird.
With a SW wind blowing, conditions were not good for the Solitary Islands, but tucked away at Muttonbird Island, we had nice flat seas. With a little surface current, brought in by the wind, we found some upwelling and shelter from the southerly swell gave us clean water for this inshore site. Using the boat for some customers (due to increase in allowable numbers) and for an assissted shore dive we had a few certified divers enjoying a dive and some students conducting both their PADI Open Water Scuba Diver course and PADI Advanced Open Water course.
Heaps of marine life about, with the certified Divers finding lots of Nudibranchs along with Wobbegong Sharks, Painted Lobsters, Octopus, Blue Grouper, whilst schools of Scads and Bullseyes hovered over the rocky bottom. Also spotted were four Eagle Rays like todays pics.
Congratulations to Liam on completing his Padi Open Water Dive Course, and Christian and Mia for completeing their PADI Advanced Open Water.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 8m-10m
Dive Report by Tara
20th May 2020 – Charters to South Sol are back!
Today, 20th May 2020 was an excellent day as it is our first trip- returning to South Solitary Island with customers on board! With only a max of 8 divers aboard Wildfin, we had a nice day of Diving. Starting at Manta Arch we had roughly 8 to 10 Grey Nurse sharks in the area crusing around. With nice clear water, it was great to be back with them. Along with the Nurses, was schools of Silver Trevally and bunches of Tarwhine and Mado’s. Second Dive was a drift from Cleaner Station to South Boulder with a turtle or two, heaps of schooling fish around Cleaner Station and some Eagle Rays crusing by a few times.
Great to have our locals back out with us! If you want to join us, please be aware space is now limited, so don’t wait till the last minute for bookings, or you may miss out.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C-23°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Tara
23rd May 2020 – Diving At Muttonbird Island
2 Wild made its way around to the northern side of Muttonbird Island this morning for a couple of dives before the east coast low arrives.
Divers were keen to get into the water as the air temp was alot cooler than the water temp.
There was a slight surge underwater but overall nice conditions.
Lots of marine life around Octopus, Wobbegong Sharks, Painted Lobsters, Nudibranchs, a Moray Eel, schools of Juvenile Bullseyes above the smalll reefs,
Two Eaglerays and a small Green Turtle were also spotted.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 5m-8m
Dive Report by Tara
28th May 2020 – Ghost Pipefish at South Solitary
Today we took out Wild Fin (with 5 customers and a couple of staff to abide by our social distancing regulations) to South Solitary Island.
For both dives we descended up the northern end, there were a few Grey Nurse Sharks, Lionfish, Nudibranchs, Eagle Rays, lots of Nudibranchs in Cleaner Cave and Shark Gutters, we had plenty of Black Cod around too.
The highlight today was a Ghost Pipefish up in Sharks gutters just swaying in the surge and this guys was very friendly!!
Boulder wall was also packed with life and some monster Wobbegongs were out and about, everywhere you turned there was something going on!!
We also saw a Whale during our surface interval – Getting ready for our Whale Watching Season!
Congratulations to Millie for completing her Open Water Diver Course!
Photo taken today by Lindsay
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 8m-10m
Dive Report by Lindsay
30th May 2020 – Diving at Split Solitary Island
Split Solitary Island was on the cards today and it didn’t disappoint with 21C and 8-10m visibility.
Dive one was at Turtle Cove, although the surface conditions were nothing flash, underwater defiantly made up for it with huge schools of Pomfreds, Bulleyes and the odd Blue Grouper.
Dive two was around the northern end of the island and the surface conditions were a lot better, underwater our divers saw lots of Nudibranchs, Puffer Fish, Black Cod, Wobbegongs, lots of Banded Coral Shrimp and this Lionfish Turtle duo having a nap under an overhang.
Congratulations to Mathew who finished his PADI Open Water Course today.
Photo taken today by Lindsay
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C-21°C
- Visibility: 8m-10m
Dive Report by Lindsay
31st May 2020 – Shark Sunday at Solitary!
Today, on the 31st May 2020, we ran both boats (with reduced numbers for COVID19) for a double dive trip to South Solitary!
For our first dive we descended into Manta Arch and the top end. At Manta Arch we saw between 30 and 40 Grey Nurse Sharks cruising around, with an additional 10 around the top end. Here we also saw plenty of Moray Eels, Batfish, White Leaffish, a couple of turtles, and plenty of wobbegongs including some that were pregnant!
For second dive we dived Cleaner Station to South Boulder, and to The Gantry. A couple of Eagle Rays at South Boulder, plenty of Nudibranches in the gutters, a Blue Angelfish, lots of Old Wives, and a shovelnose shark!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Tara
