Dive Reports – April 2016
Take a look at our dive reports from April 2016! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in April 2016.
Dive Reports April 2016 – Table of Contents:
1ST APRIL 2016 – GREAT DIVING CONDITIONS AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND!
After a speedy ride out to South Solitary island on board Wildfin, we jumped in at Shark Gutters for our first dive. With the visibility up from yesterday, a lone grey nurse was seen, also of note were some large Black Cod and Dog-faced puffer fish.
Dive two saw us drop in again at Shark Gutters, for a one way swim towards the Gantry. The Boulder Wall was screaming with life. Several eagle rays were also seen, along with several turtles and a cuttlefish.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 15+m
Dive Report by Andy
2ND APRIL 2016 – BUCHANAN’S WALL TURNS IT ON!!
This morning saw Wildfin cruising out to South Solitary for a couple of amazing dives! first up saw one group drop in at Manta Arch, where some Grey Nurse were seen, along with Saddled Puffers, a Yellow Boxfish and a Numbray! while the second group dropped in at Shark Gutters for a swim to Manta Arch.
For dive two our groups again split up, with one group dropping in at Buchanan’s Wall for a one way swim to the Gantry, a large Eagle ray, a Shovelnose, Cuttlefish, a pair each of Gold Crown and Gold Bar Sleeper Gobies were seen, along with today’s picture; a Cyerce Nigricans nudibranch photographed by our instructor Nathan at the Gantry. The second group went in at Manta Arch to dive with the Nurses. Whilst swimming the gap on their way to the Gantry they also managed to find a juvenile Semicircle Angelfish!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C-24°C
- Visibility: 15m-25m
Dive Report by Andy
3RD APRIL 2016 – SUNDAY FUNDAY DIVES AT SOUTH SOLITARY
South Solitary Island put on an extra special show for us today! Sheltered from the southerly breeze the northern end of the island was the place to be! Grey Nurse Sharks, Black Cod, Bullrays, Jewfish, Turtles, Yellow Box Fish and a very friendly Remora were just some of the highlights on dive one.
After a pleasant surface interval, our divers jumped in at Shark Gutters. Soooo much to see on this dive including schools of Tarwhine, Sweep, Goat Fish and Barracuda!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Andy
6TH APRIL – HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE!
It was another great day out at South Solitary Island. With a small group on the boat and Mike and Deb out for mike’s birthday, we started the first dive at Buchanans Wall where we were sheltered from the northerly winds. Our divers saw schools of Fusiliers, Barracuda, Shovel-nose Shark, Eagle Ray and plenty of Turtles.
The second dive used the slight current for a drift from Cleaner Station to the Gantry, again seeing loads of fish including our friendly Leopard Sharks, Turtles, Eagle Rays, Cuttlefish, Nudibranchs, and many more.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Andy
9TH APRIL 2016 – SOUTH SOLITARY HUMMING WITH LIFE!
After two days out of the water it was great to be diving once again at South Solitary Island! Although the vis was a little basic, it didn’t deter the amount of marine life spotted by our divers.
Shark Gutters was humming with life, Black Cod, Kingfish, schooling Surgeon Fish, lots of Turtles and plenty of Wobbegongs were just some of the highlights on dive one.
Dive two was a leisurely swim along the boulder wall. More Black Cod, Bullrays, Turtles, a Blue Angel Fish plus so much more!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 5m-8m
Dive Report by Andy
10TH APRIL 2016 – COOL WATER BRINGS BACK THE GREY NURSE SHARKS
After a long time with water too warm for our beautiful coral to handle we have finally got some cooler water to bring things back to normal.
Both dives today were great with loads to see including Wobbygongs, Abbots Moray Eels, Lionfish, Turtles and Blue Tangs, also big schools of Pomfreds, Tarwhine and Stripeys at Cleaner Station Cave. Bill Jackson had a rare find of a Mantis Shrimp near South Boulder mooring. Really good to see some Big Grey Nurse Sharks back around the top end of South Solitary Island, very exciting for the first time divers!!!
Congratulations to Ella, Adrian, Gavin, Katie and Nick who all completed a PADI Discover Scuba Dive and saw some turtles on their first dives!!
Congratulations to Rachel and Shanna who became PADI Open Water Divers today!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 8m-12m
Dive Report by Lindsay
12TH APRIL 2016 – GREY NURSE SHARKS CROWD MANTA ARCH GUTTERS
Wildfin was loaded with some keen divers this morning as we went out to South Solitary Island for a couple of dives.
We jumped in up the top end of the island for both dives to hide from the cool southerly winds, there was so much to see including Mantis Shrimp, Numbrays, Lionfish, Octopus, Spanish Dancers, Black Cod, a cute little Reindeer Wrasse near Manta Arch and on the way back to the boat the gutter was packed full of Grey Nurse Sharks. Cant beat being underwater!!
Vis 8-10m
Temp 23C
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 8m-10m
Dive Report by Lindsay
13TH APRIL 2016 – TURTLES AND WOBBEGONGS ROAM THE BOTTOM
Yet another great morning diving at South Solitary Island. The visibility had improved slightly from yesterday but so had the wind unfortunately, although that didn’t effect our divers exploring underwater.
Dive one had the Advanced students and the certified divers at Manta Arch while the Open Water Divers jumped in at Cleaner Station. Dive two we stayed at the top end to hide from the SE wind which was the best site!!
Some of the things our divers seen were Lionfish, Big Eye Travelly, Anemone Fish, a few different Flatworms, a Huge female Grey Nurse Shark, Wobbygongs that were very active roaming the bottom and turtles everywhere.
Congratulations to Erin and Kiarra who completed their PADI Open Water Course today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 12m
Dive Report by Lindsay
14TH APRIL 2016 – SW SOLITARY ISLAND WITH 15M VISIBILITY
The swell having shifted around to a more easterly, made it very limited to where we could dive, we put our bets on South West Solitary Island and it was a good one.
We jumped in at Surprise mooring for both dives and it did not disappoint! While the Advanced Open Water students did their Navigation Dive with Mike and Gavin, Lindsay went exploring with his crew taking advantage of the rare 15m visibility at SW Solitary. Both groups saw lots including Wobbygongs, Pomfreds, Lionfish, Blue Gropers, Turtles and some beautiful Blue-Lipped Anemones.
Congratulations to Tom and Anna Jarvis, Hugh, Felicity, Tom and Zoe Nivison who all completed their PADI Advanced Open Water today!! Congratulations to Rose who went diving for the very first time on her Discover Scuba Diving experience!! Well-done
Photo taken today of Annik with a Blue-Lipped Anemone.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
16TH APRIL – RARE LEAF FISH SEEN AGAIN AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
With calm conditions and a slight swell, South Solitary Island did not disappoint today. Manta Arch had a small number of Grey Nurse Sharks and Cleaner Station showed a vast amount of fish schooling. The tops of the diving was Boulder Wall with it’s masses of fish including Tarwhine, Pomfreds and the odd Huge Black Cod. To top it all off was the finding of a light green Leaf Scorpionfish at South Boulder Wall which would almost have to be the same one sighted last year at Buchanan’s Wall.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C-24°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Mike
17TH APRIL – MANTIS SHRIMP OUT AND ABOUT!
With the weather on our side, our first stop was at Manta Arch mooring where we dropped off some of our more experienced divers to swim to Cleaner Station. Grey Nurse Sharks were spotted around the arch, along with a playful Mantis Shrimp, a rare Leaf fish, Blue Angle Fish, Turtles and many more. The second dive saw our same divers back in at Manta Arch for some more Shark action. The rest of the crew jumped in at Cleaner Station finding a Grey Nurse near Boulder Wall. Again our divers swam with schools of Bullseye, Tarwhine, Fusiliers, Wobbygongs, Black Cod, and Blue Gropers.
Congratulations to Josepth for completing his Open Water Course and Libby for completing her first ever Discover Scuba Dive.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Andy
19TH APRIL 2015 – MARINE PARK SHOWS HIGH NUMBERS AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
Wildfin had a few first time divers on board today as we went out to South Solitary Island to blow some bubbles!
Both dives were nice and sheltered from the brisk southerly winds at the northern end of the island. There was a lot to see on both dives including Black Cod, Kingfish, Mantis Shrimp, Green Sea Turtles, Eagle Rays, Nudibranchs, a swimming Flatworm and 3 Lionfish in Cleaner Station cave!!
Congratulations to all the first time divers for beginning their amazing new hobby!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 12m-14m
Dive Report by Lindsay
20TH APRIL 2016 – OPEN WATER DIVERS SWIM WITH GREY NURSE SHARKS
Yet another spectacular days diving at South Solitary Island today!
Dive one was at Cleaner Station with dive two at Shark Gutters, today we had a lot of Open Water students on the boat and some of them are now certified!!! Everyone had a great day and seen lots, including Grey Nurse Sharks, 3 Lionfish in Cleaner Cave, Blue Groper, a little Yellow Box Fish, Anemone Fish, Eagle Rays and Kingfish,
Congratulations to Crystal, Joseph, Mason and Sarah for completing their PADI Open Water Course today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 10m-12m
Dive Report by Lindsay
21ST APRIL 2016 – SOUTH SOLITARY AGAIN IMPRESSES DIVERS!
After a cruising ride out to South Solitary Island our divers jumped in at the Arch for dive one. A few Grey Nurse were spotted below the mooring and a couple more under the Arch.
Dive two started at the always busy Cleaner Station. Such a large variety of life spotted by our divers including Eagle Rays, Black Cod, Sweetlip, Jewfish and schools of Goatfish and Tarwhine.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
22ND APRIL 2016 – SOUTH SOLITARY BUZZING WITH LIFE!
Magical conditions for diving at South Solitary Island this morning! Whilst the Arch was lacking Sharks there was a pair of Grey Nurse spotted in the back gutter. Cleaner Station, Shark Gutters and the Boulder Wall were all buzzing with life. Turtles, Black Cod, Lionfish, Bull Rays, a Blue Angel Fish and a very friendy Wobbegong Shark were just some of today’s highlights.
Congratulations to James, Kirsten and Moala on completing their PADI Open Water Dive Course today!
Check out this photo of Lisa with a Clownfish and some of the bleached coral at South Solitary today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Andy
30TH APRIL 2016 – DRIFT DIVING AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
After a long spell out of the water due to the crazy weather, Wildfin was full of divers keen to blow some bubbles!!
Dive one was at Manta Arch, our divers saw a few Lion Fish, Wobbygongs, and schools of Bigeye Travelly.
Dive two was a speedy drift from the top end around to The Gantry, as the current was rather strong everyone had plenty of time to explore the top end before catching the express route down to The Gantry, spotted on this dive were Turtles, Black Cod, Bullrays, Mantis Shrimp, and Moray Eels. Great days diving!!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 8m-10m
Dive Report by Lindsay
