Dive Reports – January 2016
Take a look at our dive reports from January 2016! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in January 2016
Dive Reports January 2016 – Table of Contents
2ND JANUARY 2016 – FISH SOUP AT CLEANER STATION
What an amazing way to start the year with a double dive at South Solitary Island!!
Once at the island there was a lot more swell then predicted, so everyone was stuck out a little deeper and close to the bottom, both dives today were at the northern end as the visibility was nice and blue.
Manta Arch had about 9-14 Grey Nurse Sharks but Cleaner Station was the stand out today with a huge range of fish species, Black Cod, Kingfish, Tarwhine, Snapper, Blue Groupers and Flutemouth Fish was just a fraction of what was there.
Nathan also spotted this rare gem, a Pineapple Fish in Cleaner Cave.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 15m-18m
Dive Report by Lindsay
4TH JANUARY 2016 – GREAT VISIBILITY AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND!
Protected from the freshening SW breeze, our divers jumped in at Shark Gutters for today’s first dive. Black Cod, Lionfish, Turtles and Eagle Rays were spotted by our divers.
Dive two was a leisurely swim from Manta Arch to the Cleaner Station. Grey Nurse Sharks, more Black Cod plus schooling Sweep, Goatfish and Tarwhine in huge numbers!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 25m
Dive Report by Andy
5TH JANUARY 2016 – BIG BLUE AT THE SOLITARY ISLANDS
Once again we were blessed with clear blue water at South Solitary Island today. Hiding from the slight southerly breeze, the northern end was the pick of the dive sites. Today’s highlights included Eagle Rays, Turtles, Lionfish, Nudibranches and some huge schools of Pomfrets and Goatfish. There was also plenty of Sharks under Manta Arch, as you can see, this poor guy has been hooked by a fishermen.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 20m-25m
Dive Report by Andy
6TH JANUARY 2016 – 30M VISIBILITY AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
The conditions underwater today were beautiful. The northern end of South Solitary was buzzing with life. Our divers spotted Black Cod, Stingrays, Blue Gropers, Turtles and lots of schooling fish around Cleaner Station mooring.
One of our groups ventured down to south Boulder where they experienced even clearer water.
We have an ugly southerly coming tonight so we will keep everyone updated on the current weather conditions.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22.5°C
- Visibility: 25m-30m
Dive Report by Lindsay
9TH JANUARY 2016 – BLUE WATER OFF THE COFFS COAST
Yet another cracker day at South Solitary Island, today we had beautiful blue water and a lot of action up the top end.
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall. Lots of turtles, Lionfish and a huge Wobbygong resting near the mooring line. During the surface interview we were treated by a spotted eagle ray flying out of the water!!
Dive two was an amazing drift dive from Cleaner Station around to The Gantry. There was an abundance of schooling fish on boulder wall, yet again there were more turtles and some big Black Cod.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 25m
Dive Report by Lindsay
10TH JANUARY 2016 – BIG VIS. IS BACK!!
Today we steamed back out to South Solitary Island for our dives, only to find that with smoother surface conditions the visibility has grown overnight to 25-30m!!
For the first dive our certified divers dropped into Manta Arch, where they found 10-15 larger grey nurse sharks, while the Open Water course dropped into Cleaner Station where a plethora of fish species were seen, including one very large blue angelfish!!
Dive two saw all our divers enter the water at Shark Gutters for a drift down to the Gantry. Several eagle rays were seen, along with a mantis shrimp and a Giant Guitarfish!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 25m-30m
Dive Report by Lindsay
11TH JANUARY 2016 – OUR DIVERS RESCUE LOGGERHEAD TURTLE!!
Arriving at Buchanan’s Wall today we discovered our resident Loggerhead Turtle “Barney” with her head tangled in the mooring line and in a very distressed and fatigued state. Jetty Dive Instructors, Nathan and Lindsay, jumped in to help. After untangling the mooring line something else appeared to be the blame. Several strands of heavy braided nylon fishing line (the kind that doesn’t float) were tangled in the header rope of the mooring, and were snagged around Barney’s shoulders and shell, binding her to the rope. after some wrestling and fancy knife work, Barney was freed. Hard to understand that fishing line was so far inside the sanctuary zone, but not hard to see how much damage it could have done. Without a doubt, Barney would be dead if we had not been there for the rescue.
After the initial excitement of the rescue, dive one saw 10-12 Grey Nurse Sharks at Manta arch with a swim through the gap to the Gantry. Barney was seen again, now sporting some very clean shoulders from the rope rubbing along with other smaller green turtles.
Dive two saw all divers drop in at shark Gutters for a Great drift dive to the Gantry. a large variety of fishlife was on display, along with mantis shrimp and several large lionfish.
Congratulations to Christine, Collin, Julia, Callum, Lachlan and Paul who finished their Open Water course today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 15m-25m
Dive Report by Andy
12TH JANUARY 2016 – GREY NURSE, TURTLES AND SO MUCH MORE!
Hiding from the freshening NE breeze, Buchanan’s Wall was the pick for today’s first dive. Green Turtles, Lionfish, Moray Eels, Wobbegong Sharks and plenty of cool Nudi’s were spotted by our divers. With an adventuress entry, dive two was a drift from Shark Gutters to the Gantry. Grey Nurse, Black Cod, more Turtles and a swarm of schooling Kingfish were just some of the highlights on this dive.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 12m-15m
Dive Report by Andrew
13TH JANUARY 2016 – HUMP DAY DIVING WITH TURTLES AND EAGLE RAYS!
There is no better way to break up the week then with a dive at South Solitary Island. The northern end of the island was the place to be. Grey Nurse Sharks, Black Cod, Eagle Rays, Green Turtles, Shovel Nose Rays, Frogfish and the smallest yellow Boxfish you have ever seen!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
18TH JANUARY 2016 – LOTS TO SEE AT SOUTH SOLITARY
After the last big blow, we were keen to get back in the water at South Solitary Island today. Manta Arch was inhabited by half a dozen or so Grey Nurse and this Paper Fish which was photographed by Nathan.
Lots to see around Shark Gutters and the Cleaner Station. A Jawfish, large Black Cod, Lionfish, Turtles, Bullrays and some schooling Sweetlip.
Vis 12m, temp 23c.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 12m
Dive Report by Andrew
19TH JANUARY 2016 – SPLIT SOLITARY ISLAND WITH 20M VISIBILITY
Today was a special day for Mike and Deb as they had their 31st wedding anniversary dive together today a huge congratulations to them both!!! Today’s pic is of Deb and a Wobbygong.
To top off the excitement we had dive one at South Solitary Island and we were treated to 10 – 12 Grey Nurse Sharks, huge schools of Pomfeds and lots of Wobbygongs. Dive two we opened up Wildfin and came back in to Split Solitary Island where the visibility was around 20m!!! A Beautiful dive there when you can see that far. Lots of different Nudibranchs, Dwarf Lionfish, Bullseyes, and a chilled out Octopus.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
24TH JANUARY 2016 – BACK IN THE WATER!!
After a spell of bad weather we loaded up and headed out to South Solitary for some overdue diving action.
First up we dropped into Manta Arch, where despite the low visibility and lack of Grey Nurses, lots of macro and fish life were seen; including what seems to have become the arch’s resident Scorpion Leaf Fish.
Dive two saw us roll in at Cleaner Station, where the visibility had picked up slightly. another great macro-dive, with many nudibranchs, lionfish, baby Yellow Boxfish and an abnormally large number of wobbegongs!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 4m-10m
Dive Report by Andy
26TH JANUARY 2016 – AUSTRALIA DAY DIVING 2016
Diving conditions have improved remarkably after a couple of days of dirty water at the Solitaries. The current at South Solitary had backed off today and the water clarity had picked up to a lovely 15-20m.
Grey Nurse, Black Cod, Turtles and some massive schooling Jewfish were just some of the highlights on today’s first dive.
Cruising from the Cleaner Station to the Gantry for dive two, our divers spotted a school of Spanish Mackerel, Bullrays and Lionfish!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Andy
28TH JANUARY 2016 – BEAUTIFUL DOWN BELOW!
Escaping the dreary grey sky, we spent our Thursday under the water at South Solitary Island. With visibility a lovely blue 15-20m, our divers spotted a huge variety of life including Eagle Rays, Bullrays, Shovel Nose Rays, schooling Jewfish and Mackerel, a number of Green and Hawkesbill Turtles plus so much more!
Temp 23-24c
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C-24°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Andy
30TH JANUARY 2016 – MAGIC CONDITIONS AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
All we can say is don’t let the weather updates stop you from booking on for a dive! We only had 10 people on the boat today and we think it is from what the forecast has been predicting over the past few days, yet at South Solitary Island today it was all kinds of amazing!!!
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall where the Advanced Open Water Divers were completing their Navigation Adventure dive while the certified divers cruised around to find some cool critters along the wall.
Dive two was a drift from Shark Gutters down to The Gantry, there were lots of Wobbygongs, Black Cod, Nudibranchs, Blue Lipped Clown fish near 5m Rock and Lindsay’s group counted 13 Spotted Sting-rays on the drift down boulder wall.
Congratulations to our newly certified Advanced Open Water divers Doug, Jan and Maxine well done team!!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
31ST JANUARY 2016 – TURTLE MANIA
This mornings northerly breeze was no match for “Wildfin”, with Mike at the helm, we arrived at South Solitary Island within no time at all. Jumping in at Buchanan’s first, our divers were treated with Turtles, schools of fleeting Mac Tuna and a giant Bullray which was sheltering ten or so Remora and a large Cobia!
Making use of the gentle current, dive two was a drift from Shark Gutters to the Gantry. More Turtles, two Shovel Nose Rays and schools of Spanish Mackerel were just some of the highlights on this dive.
Vis 12-15m, temp 23/24c
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C-24°C
- Visibility: 12m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
