Dive Reports – January 2019
Take a look at our dive reports from January 2019! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in January 2019.
Dive Reports January 2019 – Table of Contents:
2nd January 2019 – First dive of the New Year!
With good conditions prevailing, Wildfin headed out to South Solitary for some solid new year diving!
First dive saw our divers drop in at Buchanan’s Wall, a lone Grey Nurse, Banded Coral shrimp, Nudibranchs and a pregnant male pipefish were seen!
After the surface interval the divers rolled in at Shark Gutters for a drift dive to the Gantry. several Grey Nurse were seen, along with an Eagle Ray, Guitar Shark and our resident Golden Angler.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-21°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
3rd January 2019 – Big Current at South Solitary
Plenty of water moving around the island today which made for a very exciting drift dive! Exploring Buchanan’s Wall dive one and Shark Gutters to the Gantry Dive two via all of the gutters, our divers got to mix with plenty of Grey Nurse Sharks, Turtles, Morays, Black Cod, a Cowfish and even a Giant Cuttlefish!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C-20°C
- Visibility: 5m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
4th January 2019 – South Solitary Island home to so much life!
Despite the sub-optimal surface conditions both boats managed to cruise out smoothly to South Solitary for some EPIC diving!
Dive one saw Wildfin’s divers drop in at Buchanan’s Wall for a memorable dive. A Grey Nurse, Green Turtle, Dwarf Lionfish and a Marionia Cyanobranchiata Nudibranch (today’s picture from our instructor Nathan) were the highlights of the dive. Meanwhile the divers from Too Wild got in at the Gantry; where Turtles, Black Cod and a Bull Ray were seen.
Dive two saw a teams-change on the moorings, with Wildfin’s divers rolling in at the Gantry and Too Wild’s divers getting in at Buchanan’s Wall.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-20°C
- Visibility: 10m+
Dive Report by Andy
5th January 2019 – Giant Cuttlefish at South Solitary Island
Despite a few bumps along the way, we made our way out to South Solitary Island for a couple of great dives. Sheltered from the wind, Buchanan’s Wall made for a great first dive. Turtles, Bull Rays, Lionfish and some pretty cool Nudibranchs were just some of the highlights.
Dive two was spent drifting from Shark gutters to the Gantry. More Turtles, Grey Nurse Sharks, Black Cod, Giant Cuttlefish and a Sandbar Shark were spotted by our divers.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C-20°C
- Visibility: 8m-12m
Dive Report by Andy
6th January 2019 – North and South Solitary island
With surface conditions easing greatly, Too Wild cruised up to North Solitary, whilst Wildfin jetted out to South Solitary for some rather pleasant diving.
Wildfin’s divers dropped in at Manta Arch for dive one, A grey nurse, several different Nudibranchs, a Scorpion Leaf Fish were amongst the highlights there. Meanwhile Too Wild’s divers rolled in at Elbow Cave, where our divers saw a few Bullrays, Cobia and a Bronze Whaler in the distance.
After a not too brief morning tea, the divers from Wildfin rolled in at Cleaner Station to explore the top end of South Solitary, an inquisitive Bullray, three young Grey Nurse, a Blue Angelfish, and of course our resident Painted Anglerfish were seen. Several kilometers away, Too Wilds diver’s descended at Fish Soup after watching a Fur Seal play on the surface during morning tea and the site name speaks for itself as we could not keep track of the amount of fish on the dive along with a mass amount of Anemone Fish, Black Cod, Octopus and a little baby Cuttlefish near the mooring.
Epic Day all round.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-21°C
- Visibility: 8m-12m
Dive Report by Andy
7th January 2019 – Nudipalooza!!
With conditions easing further we were able to concentrate on the top end of South Solitary for both dives for the first time in quite a while. There was plenty to see at Cleaner Station on dive one including six Grey Nurse Sharks packed into the Shark Gutters swim-through, Bullrays, Black Cod, Box Fish and a plethora of Nudibranchs and Spanish Dancers.
Dive two was from Shark Gutters around the wall to South Boulder. Several Bullrays were seen, along with Hawksbill and Green Turtles, a Giant Cuttlefish and our resident Painted Anglerfish.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C-21°C
- Visibility: 8m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
8th January 2019 – First Time Divers Hang Out with Grey Nurse Sharks
With both boats loaded with excited divers we shot out to South Solitary Island for two great dives. Shark Gutters and the Cleaner Station were buzzing with life! Our first time divers even got to mix with the Grey Nurse Sharks. Turtles, Bullrays, Wobbegongs and Black Cod were found in the gutters while the Boulder Wall was packed with Tarwhine, Bullseyes, Goatfish and Trevally!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-20°C
- Visibility: 5m-10m
Dive Report by Andy
9th January 2019 – Awesome Critters at South Solitary Island
We had some awesome marine life at South Solitary Island today during our two dives at Buchanan’s Wall and the top end of the Island!!
Although both dives had a cool layer on the bottom it was rather clear down at depth. Both dives had so much to see including Blue Groupers, Lionfish, Turtles, Nudibranchs, a cute little Orangutan Crab in Shark Gutters and a very photogenic Giant Cuttlefish near South Boulder mooring.
Congratulations to Sophie, Ashley, Stephen and Alex who all finished their PADI Open Water Course today!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C-20°C
- Visibility: 6m-15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
10th January 2019 – Visibility on the improve!
Diving conditions at South Solitary are on the improve with visibility ranging from 10-15m today. Water temp has also risen slightly to 22c. Shark Gutters, Cleaner Station and Boulder Wall were all home to Grey Nurse Sharks, Black Cod, Eagle Rays and some pretty cool Nudi’s. Our resident Angler Fish and Giant Cuttle are also hanging about!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
11th January 2019 – Glassy Water and Good Diving
Diving conditions at South Solitary are continuing to improve with glassy conditions and visibility at a fairly steady 10m today. Cleaner Station, Shark Gutters and Boulder Wall were all home to Grey Nurse Sharks, Black Cod and even more Nudi’s! Our resident Angler Fish and Giant Cuttlefish are also still hanging about!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C-22°C
- Visibility: 7m-10m
Dive Report by Andy
12th January 2019 – Certified PADI Freedivers at South Solitary Island
Surface conditions today were rather pleasant and the improved visibility made it a cracker of a day!!
While Wildfin had all the scuba divers 2Wild had the snorkelers and Freedivers, their was plenty to see throughout the day by everyone on both boats including Grey Nurse Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks!! Bullrays, Black Cod, Moray Eels, Turtles, Painted Angler, Nudibranchs, and much more!!
Congratulations to Hamish, Jack and Ashley who all completed their PADI Freediver Course today!!
Photo taken today of Jack during one of his Freedives
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-21°C
- Visibility: 10m-20m
Dive Report by Andy
13th January 2019 – Blue Water at South Solitary Island
With both boats full of excited divers and snorkelers we headed out to South Solitary Island in search of blue water. Arriving at the island we were pleased to find blue water and the temp had gone up too, Wildfin divers dropped in at Shark Gutters and Two wild divers dropped in at Buchanan’s wall. All divers saw heaps of marine life Turtles, Hammerhead Sharks, schools of Tarwhine, Nudibranchs Wobbegong Sharks. After Morning tea both boats dropped all divers in at Cleaner station and made their way round to the Gantry, lots happening at the top end of the island Grey nurse Sharks, Black Cod, the resident Frog fish, Mantis Shrimp,Turtles.
Congratulations To Sumie on Completing her Padi Open water Dive Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 25m
Dive Report by Andy
14th January 2019 – Painted Angler enjoying South Solitary Island
Cleaner Station at South Solitary Island was the first pick today followed by a one way swim from the top end around to The Gantry.
Both dives had plenty to see including Black Cod, Giant Cuttlefish, Lionfish, Grey Nurse Sharks, loads of Nudibranchs, a few Bullrays and Turtles near the gap and our new local the Painted Anglerfish has made the middle gutter home sweet home.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-21°C
- Visibility: 10m-20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
15th January 2019 – Big day for little stuff
With surface conditions easing from yesterday TooWild cruised out to South Solitary for our dives. on arrival at Cleaner Station we were greeted by a school of Hammerheads. On dropping in we found the visibility had dropped overnight, making for some interesting navigation and an awesome macro dive. Dozens of Nudibranchs, along with Spanish dancers, Lionfish, Mantis Shrimp, Bullrays and Grey Nurse Sharks.
After a brief surface interval we rolled back in at South Boulder for a one way swim to the Gantry. lots more Nudibranchs were seen, along with cuttlefish, our resident Giant Cuttlefish and even a Shovel-nose Ray.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 5m-8m
Dive Report by Andy
20th January 2019 – Blue Water Back In At South Solitary
Clear blue water and a jump in temperature greeted both Wildfin and 2 wild at South Solitary today. Our divers rolled in at the top end of the island, While 2 Wild’s divers busied themselves at Cleaner Station hunting Nudibranchs for the inaugural Sea Slug Census. Wildfin unloaded at Shark gutters where the divers found a Shovel-Nose Ray, Grey Nurse Sharks, Barney the Loggerhead, along with our resident Anglerfish.
After the surface interval the boats switched dive sites and along with huge numbers of Nudibranchs, the waters spoiled us with turtles, Wobbegongs, Bullrays and Eagle Rays.
Feature image today is an unusual Nudibranch taken by Nathan, one of the many seen today. Congratulations to Brendan and Maddison on completing their PADI Open Water Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C-23°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Andy
21st January 2019 – Water and Action warms up at South Solitary Island
It looked promising when we had 22c water temp just outside the harbour and then 24.5c at South Solitary on the boat sounder, however it wasn’t quite as good at depth. Nice blue warm water temp of 23c at the surface, but dropping to 21c and feeling cooler in patches and at depth.
Plenty of action about with sightings of Hammerheads in two locations, along with a few Grey Nurse sharks on the Northern side and 20 MORE GREY NURSES in our secret gutter. Shovelnose Rays, Bull Rays and Black Cod topped off the Big Fish varieties. Still heaps of nudibranchs out for all to see, along with an elusive Blue Angelfish.
Water Temp was a cool 20c at the lowest point on the bottom and a nice 23c in the shallows.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C – 23°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Mike
22nd January 2019 – E.A.C looks to stick around
With the water temp up around 23-24C and visibility a good 20-25m the East Australian Current looks to be here for sometime!!
The Gantry, Cleaner Station, Manta Arch, Shark Gutters and South Boulder were all used as dive sites today as Wildfin and 2Wild divided them evenly among the Scuba Divers and Snorkellers.
Everyone had an epic day with a lot to see including Grey Nurse Sharks and HAMMER HEAD Sharks at Manta Arch, Schools of Travelly, Bullseyes and Pomfreds on Boulder Wall, a beautiful Blue Angel Fish that was Changing from its juvenile colour into an adult, Crayfish, Slipper Lobsters, Mantis Shrimp, Turtles and loads of Nudibranchs around the Gantry.
Visibility 18-25m
Temp 22-24C
Conditions Report:
- Temperature:
- Visibility:
Dive Report by Andy
23rd January 2019 – Hammer Heads and 25m Visibility
Surface conditions were not as good as yesterday but visibility and water temperature were still very nice!!
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall and the visibility was an easy 25-30m down deep although it was a few degrees cooler down there. Lots of huge Wobbegongs, a friendly Eastern Blue Groper and a few Anglerfish down deep.
Dive two was a drift from Shark Gutters around to The Gantry we had lots of Nudibranchs spotted including a nearly 2 foot long Spanish Dancer!! There were a few Grey Nurse Sharks near Cleaner Station mooring, Black Cod, Turtles, Shovel Nose Ray near The Gantry and a school of 10-15 Hammerhead Sharks near North Boulder.
Congratulations to Lachlan, Sebastian, and Tristan who all become Open Water Divers today!!!
Temp 21-24C
Visibility 18-30m
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C-24°C
- Visibility: 18m-30m
Dive Report by Andy
24th January 2019 – Two Island Snorkel and Dive
Both boats ventured out to south Solitary Island today packed with excited divers and snorkelers. The Divers and Snorkelers all dropped in at the top end of the island, the snorkelers drifted round to South Boulder, whilst the divers explored Shark Gutters. Visibility was a down a little from the previous day, put heaps to see in the water, Grey nurse Sharks, Black Cod, Bull rays, schools of Tarwhine and Bullseyes.
After Morning tea Wildfin, packed with snorkelers, decided to make their way to Grouper Island to get more protection from the wind.
Whilst 2 Wild stayed to do Dive two with a drift from Shark Gutters to South Boulder. Boulder Wall was full of marine life, Grey Nurse Sharks, Wobbegong Sharks, schools of Surgeon fish, and one group of divers topped the day off when they saw a dozen Hammerhead Sharks.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 10m
Dive Report by Andy
26th January 2019 – Solid NE Winds Cannot keep us Away
We had a strong NE wind heading out to South Solitary Island but everyone was super keen to get to the Lighthouse and go exploring.
We stuck to Buchanan’s Wall for the first dive and Nudibranchs, Wobbegongs, Bullrays and Lionfish were just a few of the species spotted.
Dive two we decided to drop in at the Gap and do a swim to the back gutter to see some Grey Nurse Sharks, on the way back there were lots of different Nudibranchs, stingrays, Turtles, Black Cod and a Big Bullray near Five metre Rock.
Congratulations to Kylie who finished her Advanced Open Water Course today.
Conditions Report:
Dive Report by
- Temperature: 20°C-22°C
- Visibility: 10m-18m
28th January 2019 – Divers “Shoot” The Gap!
After yesterdays dive free day we were all very keen and eager to get out diving this morning. Arriving at South Solitary Island we found that the visibility was still a little basic however there was still lots to see. Plenty of Turtles, Black Cod and little critters were spotted at Buchanan’s Wall on dive one. Dive two was spent in the back gutters behind Manta Arch before shooting the Gap to the Gantry. Grey Nurse, Turtles, Lionfish, Octopus and plenty of Nudi’s were just some of the highlights.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 17°C-19°C
- Visibility: 5m-12m
Dive Report by Andy
29th January 2019 – Grey Nurse Mum’s and Pups at South Solitary
Despite the green water the diving at South Solitary was pretty awesome today! Cleaner Station and Shark Gutters were full of life! Our divers got up close with lots of Grey Nurse Sharks including some heavily pregnant females and new born pups. Barney the resident Loggerhead was also seen sleeping in the cave while Lionfish, Black Cod, Sweetlip and schools of Tarwhine added to the highlights.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 5m-8m
Dive Report by Andy
31st January 2019 – Nice Diving Despite the Vis!
Consistent northerly winds have unfortunately generated some cool green water which has been hanging around the islands lately. Despite the basic vis the diving has still been quite nice. A rare Pipe Fish and a Banjo Ray were spotted in the depths at Buchanan’s Wall while a Turtle and some big Black Cod were seen cruising in the shallows. In search of Grey Nurse Sharks we slipped in at the Cleaner Station on dive 2. Turtles, lots of Grey Nurse, plenty of Nudi’s and some big Wobbies were the highlights on this dive!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-21°C
- Visibility: 3m-10m
Dive Report by Andy
