Dive Reports – August & September 2018
Take a look at our dive reports from August & September 2018! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in August & September 2018.
Dive Reports August & September 2018 – Table of Contents:
4TH AUGUST 2018 – 4 DIVES AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
Today was a busy diving day with 4 dives at South Solitary Island. Dive 1 for the day was amongst the sharks at Manta Arch, followed by A dive across the northern end of the island.
Heaps of Grey Nurse Sharks at Manta along with more at Sharks Gutters.
Dive 3 and 4 were again out at the northern end of South Solitary, with highlights of Grey Nurse Sharks and Barney the Loggerhead Turtle.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 8m-10m
Dive Report by Mike
5th August 2018-Visibility improves at South Solitary
Todays dives once again took our interstate groups out to South Solitary Island for two most enjoyable dives.
Dive 1 had Grey Nurse cruising all over the divers on some really close encounters and Dive 2 used a slight current to run a drift dive from Shark Gutters to the Gantry. Turtles, turtles and more turtles on that dive as the current also brought in cleaner water, pushing it out to 20 mtrs visibility. Boulder Wall had Cuttlefish again welcoming the divers.
Surface conditions were ideal too, with a few humpbacks on the way home.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-20°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Mike
11th August 2018 – Open Water Students Explore South Solitary Island
After a bumpy ride out to South Solitary, all divers got in at Shark Gutters. Conditions under water were great! Lots of schooling fish including Tarwhine, Bream, Goat fish and Bulleyes. Our divers also swam with half a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks and a couple of Turtles.
It was decided due to the wind getting stronger we would go to Split Solitary Island for dive two. After a nice surface interval tucked up behind the island, all divers dropped in at Turtle Cove. Lots of small critters including Mantis Shrimps, Octopus, schools of Bulleyes, and a lonely Eagle Ray.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Andy
12th August 2018 – Giant Cuttlefish At South Solitary Island
After a quick trip out to South Solitary it was decided dive one would be at Buchanan’s Wall. At the bottom of the wall a couple of sleeping Turtles were spotted resting on the bottom. Our student divers also saw a lonely Grey Nurse Shark cruising by.
After the surface interval 2 Wild headed up to the top of the island for dive two. Plenty to see at Shark Gutters including Giant Cuttlefish, Black Cod, and schooling Tarwhine. Today’s pic is of a pregnant Grey Nurse Shark.
Congratulations to Chayce, Tyler, and Michael on completing their Open Water Dive Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
18th August 2018- Seals at South Solitary Island
Today’s Diving started early to help with the Whale Swim trip in the afternoon and turned out to be a great day!
To the surprise of the divers, not one but two seals appeared at South Solitary Island on this morning’s dive. Grey Nurse Sharks at Manta Arch and also 6 at Cleaner Station, Eagle rays cruising and a Turtle with a Bump on its head were some of the highlights today. Visibility was very nice at 15 -20 mtrs, although the water temp was down and very crisp!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Mike
25th August 2018-Turtles and more Turtles,
Today had a Scuba Dive trip in the morning and Whale Swim in the afternoon. Manta Arch and Cleaner Station were the first dive with 8 Grey Nurse Sharks at Cleaner Station along with schools and schools of fish around. Not a lot of Sharks at Manta Arch and Cleaner Station proved to be warmer and a better dive. Dive two saw Turtles galore at the Gap and a the divers enjoyed a drift down to South Boulder.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Mike
26th August 2018- Grey Nurse Gutters lives up to it’s name.
After a wet trip out today, we dived Buchanan’s Wall on Dive 1 to shelter from the choppy sea and avoid the current. A nice easy dive down the wall but a bit chilly cmpared to the warmer top end of the island.
On Dive 2, we dropped in at Sharks Gutters and found 8 grey nurse tucked in behind the swim through. The divers then drifted through schools of Tarwhine down Boulder Wall with turtles another highlight of the dive. Congratulations to Harley for completing his Open Water course today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Mike
1st September 2018 – Gap Swim at South Solitary Island
After a quick trip out, certified divers dropped in at Manta Arch and ended up at the Gantry with a Gap swim. Plenty of Grey Nurse Sharks in the Arch, schooling Tarwhine, Wobbegong Sharks, lots of Turtles were also seen through the Gap. Student divers started at the Gantry. After the surface interval it was decided all divers would get in at Cleaner Station and do a drift round to South Boulder. Lots of activity around the wall, Black Cod, Bullseyes a lonely Grey Nurse Shark, a couple of Turtles and some Eagle Rays cruised by.
Congratulations to Louis on completing his PADI Open Water Course, also congratulations to Jesse and Jamie on completing their PADI Scuba diver Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
8th September 2018 – Blue Water at South Solitary!
The slight current at South Solitary Island today has brought in some welcomed blue water. Plenty of Grey Nurse Sharks around Shark Gutters and the Cleaner Station area! The Boulder Wall was also buzzing with life! Black Cod, Loggerhead Turtles, Octopus, Spanish Dancers, a Banjo Ray and lots of Nudibranches were spotted by our divers.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 17°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Andy
9th September 2018 – Great Diving at South Solitary Island!
Plenty of action at Manta Arch today! Our divers spotting at least one dozen Grey Nurse Sharks, Black Cod, schooling Trevally, Tarwhine, Lionfish and an Octopus. Dive two was spent exploring the northern end of the island. More Grey Nurse Sharks, lots of Nudibranches and a frisky Dusky Whaler Shark were spotted by our divers.
Vis 15m, temp 18c.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Andy
23rd September 2018 – Underwater Proposal on Saturdays Dive
Today’s diving started early to help with our whale swim.
Dive one was at Shark Gutters, and it certainly lived up to its name with lots of Grey Nurse Sharks around, schooling fish, Black Cod, and Turtles.
The second dive was from Shark Gutters to the Gantry, heaps of fish around the wall, big Wobbegong Sharks having a nap, more Turtles around the gap and all the usual little critters.
It was a special day for one couple on our boat as we had an underwater proposal!! The proposal took place in Cleaner Station Gutter with a back drop of some juvenile Grey Nurse Sharks, and of course – she said YES.
Congratulations from everyone at Jetty Dive Centre!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 10m-12m
Dive Report by Andy
26th September 2018 – 30 to 40 Metre Visibility at South Solitary Island
We were blessed with some spectacular conditions today with no current at all and 30 – 40m Visibility!!!
Manta Arch was the choice for dive one and we ended the dive around at Cleaner Station, the arch had about 15 Grey Nurse Sharks there and you could see them from the surface, the swim to Cleaner Station had some huge pregnant females to greet divers too.
Dive two was a one way swim from Cleaner station around to The Gantry there was about 15-20 Grey Nurse Sharks at the bottom of the line and Barney the Logger Head turtle asleep in Cleaner Cave (she didn’t want to wake up either)
Boulder wall had a few Moray Eels, Painted Crayfish, Black Cod and a Mantis Shrimp, once at The Gantry we had a beautiful Eagle Ray cruise past over Five Metre Rock along with 3 Green Sea Turtles.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 30m-40m
Dive Report by Lindsay
27th September 2018 – Blue Water still at South Solitary Island
We had another good day today at South Solitary Island with blue, clear water and plenty of marine life about.
Dive one was at Cleaner Station with a few Grey Nurse Sharks around the mooring, lots of different Nudibranchs in Cleaner Station Cave and some juvenile Black Cod around Cleaner Station Rock.
Dive two was a Drift down to South Boulder where we had more Grey Nurse around Shark Gutters, huge Wobbegong Sharks, Lionfish, Flutemouth Fish, Tarwhine and a little Hawksbill Turtle having some lunch near Cleaner Cave.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C – 20°C
- Visibility: 20m-25m
Dive Report by Lindsay
28th September 2018 – Turtle Galore at South Solitary
We braved a little wind today to get out to South Solitary Island but it was worth it with a clear 20m visibility and plenty to see!!
Dive one had the certified divers swim from Manta Arch through the gap to The Gantry where they cruised with 3-4 Grey Nurse Sharks, Black Cod, Eagle Rays and Barney the Logger Head Turtle gliding in and not having any care for personal space!!! The Gantry had roughly 8 turtles up in the shallows feeding, it must have been tasty.
Dive two was at Buchanan’s Wall where we had a huge Green Sea Turtle having a nap next to a Bull Ray or should we say a Guard Ray, lots of Pomfreds, Bullseyes and Eastern Blue Gropers.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-20°C
- Visibility: 18m-25m
Dive Report by Lindsay
