Dive Reports – April 2018
Take a look at our dive reports from April 2018! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in April 2018.
Dive Reports April 2018 – Table of Contents:
1ST APRIL 2018 – VISIBILITY IMPROVING AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND!
The sea conditions had improved a lot today and so had the visibility. Manta Arch was home to about 8-10 Grey Nurse Sharks plus a large school of Tarwhine and Trevally. The Cleaner Station and South Boulder Wall were buzzing with life. A massive school of Barracuda circled one group of divers as they watched 15 or more Bullrays playing what looked like “follow the leader” along the Boulder Wall.
Vis 10-12m, temp 22-24c.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C-24°C
- Visibility: 10m-12m
Dive Report by Andy
2nd April 2018 – Giant Cuttlefish finish off Easter Weekend
We had both Snorkelers and Scuba divers on our boats today, even though the conditions were not the greatest everyone had a blast and saw plenty under water.
Bull Rays have definitely been the highlight this weekend as our divers spotted another couple today.
Our divers also saw Octopus, Grey Nurse Sharks, Turtles, Wobbegongs, Travally, Mantis Shrimp and to everyone’s surprise there was two Giant Cuttlefish on the Boulder Wall!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 6m-10m
Dive Report by Andy
4th April 2018 – Cool Thermocline brings life to South Solitary Island
South Solitary Island had a cracker of a thermocline today with the temperature varying from 23C in the shallows to 19C below 16 metres!!
The abundance of life on Boulder Wall, Cleaner Station and Shark Gutters was incredible with schools of Barracuda, Sweep, Trevally, Kingfish, huge Wobbegongs, Bullrays, Starry Toadfish, Lionfish, Grey Nurse Sharks, 4 – 6 Spanish Dancers and a Giant Saltwater Stingray that had about 15 Cobia cruising with it up in the shallows.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-23°C
- Visibility: 3m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
6th April 2018-Great fast current dive on Friday!
The Green cooler water was still with us today at Buchanan’s Wall. Still lots to see including huge Wobbegongs at Cable Trail, Turtles and schools of Mado’s and Sweep. Vis was around 8 metres . With a boatload of students and some certified divers, the second dive was split between a Drift dive and a dive at the Gantry. The Drift dive was certainly action packed for the certified divers, with a strong current running around the northern end shooting them along Boulder Wall. They could barely see the wall for fish. With visibility improved and the colour and warmth of the water much better, the dive was one to remember.
The afternoon brought another great sighting, a huge Manta Ray at Buchanan’s Wall. A great Afternoon out!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 10m-12m
Dive Report by Mike
7th April 2018 – Double boat to South Solitary Island
We had both Wildfin and 2Wild full of keen customers today as we headed out to South Solitary Island for a double dive.
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall where we spotted a few turtles, Bullrays and a little baby Mantis Shrimp along with a number Wobbegongs having a nap.
After some morning tea we dropped in at the northern end and caught the current around to The Gantry, Boulder Wall was out of control with marine life!! we had lots of Tarwhine, Black Cod, Lionfish, Flutemouth Fish, thousands of Blue Damsels and a monster of an Eagle Ray swooping around South Boulder.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C-23°C
- Visibility: 5m-12m
Dive Report by Andy
8th April 2018 – Strong Current Improves Water Colour!
The sea had settled nicely today making it a pleasant ride out to South Solitary Island this morning. Buchanan’s Wall and the Gantry were ideal locations for dive one. Turtles, Bullrays, Black Cod, Wobbegong Sharks, Octopus and a Pipefish were all of the highlights on this dive.
Taking advantage of the current, our divers enjoyed a drift dive from the Cleaner Station to the Gantry. Plenty of big fish action made for an exciting dive. Schooling Tarwhine, Goatfish and Sweep crowded the Boulder Wall whilst the Cleaner Station was the local “hang out” for a few Sweetlip and big Black Cod!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C-24°C
- Visibility: 8m-15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
9th April 2018 – Humpback Whale Spotted!!
On our way out to South Solitary Island this morning we came across one lonely Humpback who was keen to get the party started. Historically we don’t normally see Humpback Whales migrating north until late may/early June so this girl is definitely early!
Sheltered from the northerly breeze, Buchanan’s Wall was the ideal location for today’s first dive. Loads of Wobbegongs, Black Cod, Octopus, Lionfish and a few Green Turtles were just some of the highlights.
Round two included a drift dive from the Cleaner Station to the Gantry. Sooooooooo many fish on the Boulder Wall!!! Kingfish, Black Cod, Tarwhine, Sweep and Trevally to name a few!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C-22°C
- Visibility: 5m-10m
Dive Report by Andy
11th April 2018 – Big Swell and Big Life!
The northern end of South Solitary Island was the place to be today as our divers got up close to plenty of big fish life. Eagle Rays, Bull Rays, Black Cod, Turtles and Sweetlips roamed around the Cleaner Station area while schools of Tarwhine, Sweep, Goatfish and Trevally inhabited the Boulder Wall.
The strong East Australian Current improved visibility at the northern end of the island to around 15m while water temp varied from 22-24c.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C-24°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Andy
14th April 2018 – Dancing Rays and Giant Cuttlefish!
Jumping in at Buchanan’s Wall for today’s first dive, our divers spotted an Eagle Ray on decent and 3 Marble Rays shortly after. Turtles, Black Cod, Lionfish and a few big Wobbegongs added to the highlights on this dive.
Dive two was spent enjoying the northern end and the Boulder Wall. Plenty of life congregating in the current. A small female Grey Nurse and a Giant Cuttlefish were also spotted on this dive.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 5m-8m
Dive Report by Andy
15th April 2018 – Grey Nurse Sharks Patrol Manta Arch
Better surface conditions allowed advanced divers to dive at the arch, they weren’t disappointed as they spotted at least ten Grey Nurse Sharks. Pipefish, two Octopus, schooling Tarwhine and a Turtle added to the highlights.
Dive two was at the Gantry. Plenty to see. Barney the resident Loggerhead Turtle even payed us a visit.
Well done to the PADI open water course students who dived with us today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 5m-8m
Dive Report by Andy
16th April 2018 – Vis on the Improve!
Today’s calm seas made for a quick ride out to South Solitary Island. Once at the Island we jumped in at Buchanan’s Wall for today’s first dive. Black Cod, Wobbegongs, Bull Rays, Giant Cuttlefish and a Leopard Blenny were just some of the highlights.
Within one hour the strong current running across the northern end of the island had brought in some blue water. Eagle Rays, Loggerhead and Green Turtles, Lionfish, plus schools of Tarwhine and Trevally were spotted by our divers.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C-24°C
- Visibility: 5m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
20th April 2018 – Clear Water on The Return
It was awesome to get out today and to be welcomed by some clear and warm water at South Solitary Island. We had divers jumping in all around the island and meeting at The Gantry on both dives.
There was plenty to see including Grey Nurse at Manta Arch and about 15 Black cod spotted along Boulder Wall!! We counted because Hamish Malcom and Mike were doing a Black Cod Survey.
Lots of Eagle Rays around, Spanish Dancers, Bullrays, Basslets, and 4 – 5 Turtles mingling at The Gap.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C-24°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
21st April 2018-Grey Nurse and Leopard Sharks
Two boats out today with one on the way to North Solitary when the wise decision to do South Solitary was made with the rough seas. The Divers enjoyed a dive at Manta with 5 Nurses and then a lovely Dive at Cleaner Station to North Boulder Wall with a Leopard shark cruising around. The current had gone and visibility and temp has improved to have an easy dive around the top end. Here is a picture of Sheldon and a Spanish Dancer. Sheldon is the one with the camera!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C-24°C
- Visibility: 18m-20m
Dive Report by Mike
22nd April 2018 – Freedivers and Advanced Open Water Divers Certified
Once we got to South Solitary Island we dropped in to mix with some Grey Nurse Sharks at Manta Arch and the Freedivers tied up to Shark Gutters mooring which was protected from the southerly.
We had lots to see underwater including Grey Nurse Sharks, a tiny Yellow Boxfish, Pipefish, Lionfish, Black Cod, Turtles, schooling Barracuda, Wobbegongs and a few Big Bullrays.
Congratulations to Joe, Kevin and John who all completed the PADI Freediver Course today and to Steph and Simon who finished their PADI Advanced Open Water Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 15m-18m
Dive Report by Lindsay
23rd April 2018-Manta Monday at South Solitary Island
Yes..it is True! Just for Deb on her day out diving, a Manta Ray turned up at the end of dive 1 at Shark Gutters and circled the divers, much to their delight! Even the students on the mooring line doing their safety stop had a birds eye view of the lovely Manta.
Apart from the Manta Ray, we saw Turtles and Lionfish, Nudibranchs and more Nudi’s and Heaps of fish littering the Boulder Wall. A top pair of dives considering the conditions above were less than ideal. A bumpy trip home, but well worth the effort to get out and dive.
Visibility was a lovely 20 mtrs at the start and dropped a bit on dive 2, but still great.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C-24°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Mike
25th April 2018 – Dancing Manta Ray Dazzles Divers!
Arriving at South Solitary Island this morning we were greeted by lovely blue water! With 30m visibility the island put on a show! Eagle Rays, Turtles, lots of Black Cod, Nudibranches, Lionfish and a MANTA RAY!!!!!! Yes our divers were lucky enough to swim with this beautiful creature which has been hanging around for the past 3 days.
Dive 2 was spent exploring the Boulder Wall and beyond. Lots of Black Cod, schooling Tarwhine and Goatfish, more Eagle Rays and a Mantis Shrimp were just some of the highlights!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 30m
Dive Report by Andy
