Dive Reports – April 2023
Take a look at our dive reports from April 2023! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in April 2023.
Dive Reports – Table of Contents:
1ST APRIL 2023-NO APRIL FOOL AT SOUTH SOLITARY TODAY, JUST GREAT DIVING!
With clear water and abundant fish activity today, South Solitary lived up to it’s world class diving reputation today.
Starting with 10 Grey Nurse Sharks entertaining the PADI Advanced course “Deep Divers” at Manta Arch, through to numerous Leopard Sharks at Shark Gutters, everywhere you looked we found something to admire on dive one.
Turtles and Schools of Pomfreds and Tarwhine where all over Boulder Wall on dive two, along with many more sightings of Leopard Sharks and Black Cod. With a lovely 24c water temp, it was just great diving today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 25m
Dive Report by Mike
2nd April 2023 – Leopard sharks and friendly turtles
Loaded with excited divers we made our way to South Solitary Island this morning onboard Mega Wild. Greeted with warm blue water we slipped in at Shark Gutters for today’s first dive. Exploring the gutters, our divers spotted black cod, schooling trevally, turtles, morays and the tiniest yellow box fish!
In search of calmer surface conditions we made our way to South West Solitary for dive two. Sheltered from the southerly breeze we hopped in at the crazy maze where we found a leopard shark navigating the gutters. Wobbegongs, nudis and a crested horn shark also added to the highlights.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Andy
3rd April 2023 – Manta ray Monday at South West Solitary Island
With a boat full of divers “2Wild” made its way out to South Solitary island this morning. On arrival conditions only allowed us to dive at the Northern end of the island due to the wind coming from the South. All divers slipped in at Shark Gutters navigating there way around to Cleaner station, checking out the Cave and Gutters. Marine life seen on this dive were Moray Ells, Turtles, Nudibranchs and two Leopard Sharks. A unanimous decision was made to go to South West solitary Island for dive two, after morning tea, all divers dropped in on Crazy Mase Mooring exploring the mase and surrounding area. “WOW” what a dive the highlight was all eleven divers and the only snorkeler had a Manta Ray swim by circling them for ten Minutes, also seen on this dive were Wobbegong Sharks, Octopus, and Black cod. Congratulations to Harriet, Hunter, and Tarren on completing their Padi Open Water Diver Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Teagan
7th April 2023- Good Diving on Good Friday!
Today on Good Friday, 2Wild loaded up with keen divers this morning and headed to South Solitary Island.
For our first dive, all of the divers descended at the Gantry. Some wildlife spotted were octopus, yellow boxfish, and heaps of Green Sea Turtles.
After warming up on our surface interval, one group descended at Shark Gutters to drift down to the Gantry. The next group of students descended at the Gantry and drifted to Buchanans wall, where conditions were slightly more calm. On these dive we saw a couple of leopard sharks, massive balls of bait fish and schooling fish, a few nudibranchs along the wall, and a massive turtle having a snooze.
Congratulations Jamie for completing your Padi Open Water Diver Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Teagan
8th April 2023 – Barney the Beautiful is Back
We got a break in the weather to get out this morning to South Solitary Island.
Dive one had the Advanced students and a few certified divers get in at Manta Arch while the rest got in at Cleaner Station.
Manta Arch had 8-10 Grey Nurse Sharks, schools of Trevally and Yellow Box Fish. There was a Leopard Shark at Cleaner Station along with a Mantis Shrimp attacking a White Eyed Eel!! Black Cod and Schools of Bullseyes were also seen.
Dive two was a Drift from Shark Gutters down to The Gantry, this was a great dive as we had 4-5 Leopard Sharks along boulder wall, Wobbegongs everywhere, Bull rays and Barney The Loggerhead Turtle foraging for shells near The Gantry.
Congratulations to Joshua who finished his Advanced Open Water and Enriched Air Specialty today
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
9th April 2023 – Two Boats and Mantas at South West Solitary
While Mega Wild went to South Solitary Island, 2 Wild made its way to North Solitary Island.
South Solitary Island had Turtles, Grey Nurse Sharks at Manta arch, 3-4 Leopard Sharks, 2 Eagle Rays, lots of Nudibranchs and a big Bullray near the gap.
Visibility 10-15m
Temp 23C
North Solitary Island had hundreds of Anemone Fish in Anemone Bay, Banded Coral Shrimp, Turtles, Pineapple Fish, Black Cod, only a few Leopard Sharks sleeping on the bottom, two Leopard Blennys and much more!
Visibility 15-20m
Temp 23-24c
We got word that there was multiply Manta Rays on the surface at South West Solitary so we tried our luck on the way home and two Manta Rays were waiting for us so we jumped in and snorkeled with them for about 15mins!!
AMAZING!!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: South: 23°C, North: 23°C-24°C
- Visibility: South: 10m-15m, North: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
10th april 2023- Easter Monday Diving
Loaded up with keen divers, “Mega Wild” made its way to South Solitary Island this morning ready for a double dive.
Our divers dropped in at Shark Gutters for the first dive. Weaving our way in and out of the gutters, there was plenty to see and experience. 3-4 Leopard Sharks came to say hello, one even coming up close and personal to give a diver a cheeky little cuddle! We also a couple Mantis Shrimp, an Eagle Ray, and schooling Silver Sweep.
After evaluating conditions on our surface interval, one group decided to descend at Manta Arch and one group at Shark Gutters, both drifting to South Boulder. On this dive, there were half a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks hanging around Manta Arch. We also saw around 3 Turtles crusing by in the shallows, a Bull Ray, another Eagle Ray, and 5 more Leopard Sharks.
Congratulations to Adrian and Catherine who finished their Open Water Diver today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Teagan
12th april 2023- Calm conditions at south solitary island
Calm conditions this morning made it a quick trip out to South Solitary on “Megawild”. All divers dropped in at Manta Arch for their first dive, marine life seen on this dive was at least half a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks, Green Sea Turtles, Moray Eels, schooling fish and a lazy Leopard Shark having a sleep on the sand.
After morning tea “Megawild” made its way around to Shark Gutters for dive two to explore the top end of the island. Another great dive was had by all. Barney came and said hello to one group of divers and Leopard sharks were seen by another group of divers. Black cod, Octopus, Nudibranchs, Wobbegong sharks were also seen on this dive.
Congratulations to Beau, Riley, and Lucy for completing their PADI Open water Dive Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
15th April 2023 – Barney Visits again
The forecast today was just right for a double dive at South Solitary Island.
Dive one we had one group of divers get in at Manta Arch and the other to get in at Cleaner Station.
We had lots to see including 6-8 Grey Nurse Sharks in the arch, Schools of Bullseyes and Fusiliers, some big Wobbegongs and 2 Eagle Rays out in the Deep.
On dive two the Advanced Open Water Students got in at The Gantry to do their Navigation dive while the rest did a drift (swim) from Cleaner Station down to The Gantry.
Boulder Wall was a little quiet and unfortunately we saw no Leopard Sharks but a good number of turtles, Black Cod, Moray Eels, Blue Groupers and a very well timed visit from Barney at everyone’s safety stop.
Congratulations to Laurie and Isabelle who finished their PADI Open Water Course today
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
16th April 2023 – A sweet Sunday at South
With conditions better than the forecast, 2 wild was full of excited divers heading out to South Solitary Island.
For the first dive, everybody hopped in at Buchanan’s Wall. Here our divers spotted a big Green Sea Turtle, and a lionfish. They also spotted a few little Yellow Boxfish near the mooring. There were anenomefish, Moray Eels, Green Moon Wrasse, Old Wives, and plenty of other schooling fish throughout the dive. There was also an Abbot’s Moray Eel, and a Mosaic Moray with lots of sharp looking little teeth! Towards the end a few of our divers also spotted Barney cruising close by the island.
On the second dive, one group did a drift from the Gantry to Buchanan’s, while another group headed from the Back Gutter through The Gap to the Gantry. Lots of little critters were spotted from the Gantry to Buchanan’s, including plenty of shrimp, more Yellow Boxfish, an Octopus, and some Red Fire Gobys. There were a small group of 4 Yellow Boxfish for the group starting at the back gutter, along with heaps of Green Sea Turtles in the gap. Along with plenty of Wobbegongs, there was heaps of sealife to see today!
The visibility sat at around 15m, getting a little dirtier close to the Island, but the water was nice and blue, and there was heaps to see!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Tara
28th April 2023- First day out was a good day out!
Due to the massive swell rolling up the East Coast combined with strong winds, 2Wild made an appearance at South Solitary Island for the first time since the 16th of April!
A boat full of keen divers stormed out to the Island this morning in search of good diving, and they were not disappointed! Everyone descended at Buchanans wall where they were pleasantly surprised with good visibility. On this dive, we saw a large Mosaic Moray, nudibranchs, an Eagle Ray, a big female Green Turtle, Lionfish, juvenile Yellow Boxfish, a male Dunckers Pipehorse and a lone Skunk Clownfish!
After warming up with tea and coffee on our surface interval, divers dropped in again at Buchanans Wall for a swim to The Gantry. Along the way our divers encountered a large Male Green Turtle, Moorish Idols, Old Wives, Wobbegongs, Fire Gobies and a False Stonefish.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Teagan
29th April 2023 -Mega Saturday Diving!
With Surface conditions easing slightly from yesterday Megawild loaded up and steamed out to South Solitary for today’s diving.
First up our divers descended on Buchanan’s Wall. During the dive Green Turtles, Nudibranchs, Dwarf Lionfish, Banded Coral Shrimp, Fusiliers, Yellow Boxfish, a Mosaic Moray (today’s Picture Courtesy of our instructor Nathan), and Fire Gobies were seen.
After a sunny surface interval our divers again dropped on Buchanan’s Wall, this time heading out and away towards Cable Trail, along the way more Nudibranchs were seen, along with various Morays, Wobbegongs, Octopus, Lionfish, Slipper Crays and a Cuttlefish.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 6m-10m
Dive Report by Nathan
30th April 2023 – Sunday Splash At South Solitary Island!
With conditions easing further Megawild loaded up and powered out to South Solitary for todays diving!
On arrival we found the conditions at the island hadn’t changed a great deal from yesterday, so first up our divers rolled in at Buchanan’s Wall. During the dive Nudibranchs, juvenile and transitional Yellow Boxfish, Dwarf Lionfish, Green Turtles, Hawksbill Turtles and a transitional Black Boxfish ( today’s Photo Courtesy of our eagle eyed Instructor Nathan) were seen.
After a sunny surface interval our divers dropped on the Gantry. More Nudibranchs, Green Turtles, Giant Sea Hares, Porcupine Fish, Abbotts Morays and Peacock Mantis Shrimp were amongst the highlights.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 6m-8m
Dive Report by Nathan
