Dive Reports – December 2015
Take a look at our dive reports from December 2015! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in December 2015.
Dive Reports Decemeber 2015 – Table of Contents:
5TH DECEMBER 2015 – CLEAR WATERS OF THE COFFS HARBOUR COAST
We were treated to beautiful blue water at South Solitary Island today. Both dives were on the northern end, although the surface was a little lumpy once underwater it was amazing!!
The Cleaner Station gutter was inhabited with half a dozen Grey Nurse and plenty of Nudibranches hanging on the wall. Our divers also spotted schooling Bullseyes, Snapper, Lionfish, Black Cod and a Wobbegong eating an Octopus, he was not letting go of his rock as you can see!!!! Unfortunately for the octopus the Wobbegong got his way and enjoyed lunch 🙁
Congratulations to Jarred Stephens who finished his Open Water Diver today!!
Conditions Report:
- Visibility: 25m-28m
- Temperature: 22°C
Dive Report by Lindsay
6TH DECEMBER 2015 – 25M VISIBILITY @ SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
What a day to go diving! South Solitary Island put on an amazing show for us today. Swimming through crystal clear water, our divers spotted Grey Nurse Sharks, Schooling Cow Nose Rays, Black Cod, Jewfish, Mangrove Jack and a pack of Hammerheads patrolling the boulder wall!
Congratulations to Cameron and Elizabeth on completing their PADI Open Water Course today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 25m
Dive Report by Andy
7TH DECEMBER 2015 – GREY NURSE, TURTLES AND SO MUCH MORE!
There is no better way to kick off the week than with a dive at South Solitary island. Swimming through Manta Arch, our divers spotted half a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks and a school of Cow Nose Rays. A small group of Hammerheads could also be spotted in the distance.
Buchanan’s Wall was the hang out for all of the islands resident turtles today. Black Cod, Moray Eels, Clownfish and loads of nudibranches were also spotted at this site.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Andy
8TH DECEMBER 2015 – OVER 100 HAMMER HEAD SHARKS AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
Hammer Head Sharks!!!
What a day out at South Solitary Island, along with the 100+ Hammer Head Sharks the clear water off the coast at the moment is magic and the water temperature at South Solitary Island was 23.8C on the surface.
Both dives had a range of different things to see including Turtles, Wobbygongs, Blue Tangs, Angelfish, Cow-nose Rays and so much more.
The highlight was the Hammer Head Sharks although they were only seen by two divers we do have video proof so watch this space!!
If you would like to learn more about Sharks we run a AWARE Shark Conservation Diver Course very regularly let us know if your interested.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 25m
Dive Report by Lindsay
9TH DECEMBER 2015 – AUSTRALIAN ARMY MEN ARE PADI OPEN WATER DIVERS!!!
With a double run out to South Solitary in the morning and Split Solitary in the afternoon all hands were on deck at Jetty Dive Centre!!
The morning and afternoon dives were both really good with plenty to see, although the visibility at Split was not as good as South Solitary everyone had a blast on both trips.
Plenty to see throughout the day including Grey Nurse Sharks, Black Cod, Lionfish and some huge Wobbygongs.
Congratulations to 10 of the guys from the Brisbane Base 8/9 RAR who finished their PADI Open Water Diver Course today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 10m-18m
Dive Report by Lindsay
10TH DECEMBER 2015 – CONGRATULATIONS NEWLY CERTIFIED DIVERS!
Once again we were impressed with the diversity of aquatic life that South Solitary Island had to offer. Hammerhead Sharks, Grey Nurse, Black Cod, Lionfish, Wobbegongs, Green Turtles, Moorish Idols and schooling Kingfish were all spotted by our divers today.
Congratulations to the Soldiers from 8/9 RAR on completing their PADI Open Water Course today. Well Done Guys!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Andy
11TH DECEMBER 2015 – MANTIS SHRIMP AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
Buchanan’s Wall was our first dive site today, our divers seen turtles, Eastern Blue Groper, Wobbygongs, Basslets, and Painted Crays.
After some soup, tea and coffee Dive 2 was a casual swim from Buchanan’s Wall up to The Gantry where lots of eels were spotted along with a beautiful Mantis Shrimp displaying all its colours.
Congratulations to Jesse and Nathan who became PADI Open Water Divers today!! Well done
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 12m-15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
12TH DECEMBER 2015 – SHARKS AND RAYS GALORE!
Sheltered from the Southerly breeze, we slipped in at Shark Gutters for our first dive of the day. Plenty of big fish action on this dive. Black Cod, Spotted Sweetlip, Kingfish, Eagle Rays, schooling Shovel Nose Rays and a dozen or so Grey Nurse Sharks were spotted by on this dive.
Dive two was spent leisurely drifting along the boulder wall. Grey Nurse, Bull Rays, schooling Tarwhine and an appearance from “Barney” our resident Loggerhead Turtle were just some of the highlights.
Congratulations to Tess for completing her PADI Open Water Course and Riley on completing his Fish ID Specialty Course today. Well done guys!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visbility: 15m
Dive Report by Andy
13TH DECEMBER 2015 – GREY NURSE SHARKS EVERYWHERE AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
South Solitary Island was amazing under water today, both dives were up the northern end and there were Grey Nurse Sharks everywhere you looked.
Our divers saw some huge Black Cod, Bullrays, Slipper Lobsters, Tarwhine and lots of Kingfish.
Shark Gutters had at least 12 Grey Nurse that come really close to our divers!
Congratulations to Rebecca who finished her PADI Scuba Diver Course, Well done
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 10m-12m
Dive Report by Lindsay
14TH DECEMBER 2015 – STILL GREY NURSE AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
Conditions improved enough to do an easy dive on Manta Arch at South Solitary Island today. Whilst Manta itself was bare of Grey Nurse, we found 10 or more hiding elsewhere.
Dive 2 turned out to be a rapid drift with a good current, with at least the same amount of Grey Nurse at Shark Gutters at the start and heaps of fish and a couple of turtles along Boulder wall.
The Picture today shows a Grey Nurse on Dive 1 with fishing line covered in algae hanging from it’s gill. This means an embedded hook inside its mouth. With the algae on the line indicating that it has been there a long time, it is obvious to us it would have a stainless steel hook. We feel they should ban them, the shark will die slowly from it’s presence, before it looks like rusting away.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C-23°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Mike
15TH DECEMBER 2015 – “KINGY” THE SIAMESE FIGHTING FISH
Today’s calm sea made for a relaxing day of diving at South Solitary Island. The increase in water temp hasn’t deterred the Grey Nurse either, plenty of these gentle creatures can still be spotted swimming in the shallows of the island. Along with the Nurse, Schooling Kingfish, Trevally, Black Cod, Green Turtles and some massive Bullrays were spotted on today’s dives!
Check out our latest edition to the shop! This fish tank was created by the very clever Gordon King using an old dive cylinder. We love it Gordon! Think we will call the fish Kingy!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
16TH DECEMBER 2015 – CONGRATULATIONS MACLEAN HIGH DIVERS!
Today was the last day of the PADI Open Water Diver Course for the students from Maclean High. South solitary Island treated us with some great diving. Plenty of Grey Nurse, Black Cod, Mangrove Jack, Bull Rays, Turtles and an appearance from “Scooter” the Shovel Nose!
Congratulations guys! Thanks for all the laughs, and the chocolates!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 8m-12m
Dive Report by Andy
17TH DECEMBER 2015 – FIRST TIME DIVERS SWIM WITH 20+ HAMMERHEAD SHARKS
Words cannot explain how good the diving was at South Solitary Island today. Since yesterday, the visibility has improved to a magical 30 meters and temperature up to 23c. Apart from all of the close encounters with the Grey Nurse, Bull Rays, giant Black Cod and schooling Kingfish, our divers spotted a school of HAMMERHEADS!!
Still plenty of spots left for the weekend so book on for a dive!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 30m
Dive Report by Lindsay
18TH DECEMBER 2015 – HAMMER HEAD SHARKS MAKING SOLITARY ISLAND HOME
Yet again South Solitary Island put on a show for our divers. The Hammer Head Sharks are still hanging around the northern end of the island and they seem to be sticking with a large school of Cow Nose Rays that have become locals!!
The visibility had dropped slightly, but only on the bottom. There was a mix bag of fish in cleaner cave including Black Cod, Tarwhine, Kingfish and Jewfish.
The second dive was a drift from Cleaner Station down to The Gantry where our divers spotted more Hammer Head Sharks along with 5 Turtles near the gap.
Congratulations to Zoe and Ben who completed their last dives of the PADI Open Water Course today and Jerard who finished his PADI Advanced Open Water Diver!!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 12m-15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
19TH DECEMBER 2015 – CLEAR WATER @ SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
Great conditions for diving South Solitary Island today. Our divers spent dive one exploring the northern end of the island. Despite not seeing any Hammerheads, our divers spotted Grey Nurse Sharks, Black Cod, Bullrays, Cuttlefish, a Slipper Lobster, lots of turtles and a very excited Sandbar Shark!
Taking advantage of the current, we slipped in at Shark Gutters for a drift to the Gantry. The Boulder Wall was buzzing with life! Great dive had by all!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C-23°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Andy
23RD DECEMBER 2015 – HAMMER HEADS CRUISING HIGH OFF BOULDER WALL
The Northern end of South Solitary was the pick for today’s dives as there was a brisk southerly whipping around the corner.
Both dives were good in their own way, we had Grey Nurse Sharks, Bullrays, Tarwhine, Green Sea Turtles, a school of Cow Nose Rays and about 6-8 Hammer Head Sharks just off Boulder Wall!!
There was a very cool (17C) layer right on the bottom that all the divers were trying to avoid.
We would like to congratulate Ryan and Scott for becoming PADI Open Water Divers today and our best looking Dive Master Gary Kennedy on completing his 500th dive today!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 17°C-20°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
26TH DECEMBER 2015 – BOXING DAY DIVING. 30M VIS & HAMMERHEAD SHARKS!
30m visibility, 23 degree water temp and zero current made for perfect diving conditions at South Solitary Island this morning! Among the usually suspects, including Grey Nurse, Black Cod, Lionfish, Bullrays, Turtles and a million other things, we spotted more Hammerheads Sharks! Cruising over the top of our divers, a school of 30 plus Hammerheads were spotted. Lets hope these guys hang around for a while longer!
Check out this photo of Andrew with his Advanced Open Water Course Students!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 30m
Dive Report by Andy
27TH DECEMBER 2015 – MORE HAMMERHEADS SPOTTED AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND!
With Wild Fin loaded with divers, we shot out to South Solitary Island for this mornings dives. Happy to see the clear blue water we slipped in at the Cleaner Station in search of Hammerheads. Grey Nurse Sharks, Black Cod, Spotted Sweetlip and schooling Mangrove Jack were just some of the highlights on today’s first dive.
Sheltering from the freshening Southerly, Manta Arch was up next. 20 plus Grey Nurse, more Black Cod and a school of fleeting Hammerheads were spotted on this dive.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23.5°C
- Visibility: 25m
Dive Report by Andy
28TH DECEMBER 2015 – MUTTON BIRD ISLAND HOLIDAY DIVING
The prevailing weather conditions meant that we couldn’t get to South Solitary Island this morning, however we did get to Mutton Bird Island for 2 great dives. Octopus, Blue Grouper, giant Sea Hares, Squid, Wobbegong Sharks and an array of beautiful Nudi’s were spotted during our dives!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 5m-8m
Dive Report by Andy
31ST DECEMBER 2015 – BLACK COD OUT FOR END OF YEAR DIVE
Well that’s it, diving at South Solitary Island for 2015 is over, but not without disappointment.
Unfortunately, due to the strong southerly winds the last four days of diving were cancelled. Itching to get back in the water, we shot out to South Solitary Island for two dives this morning. Our divers spotted lots today, including Turtles, Lionfish, Moray Eels, Nudibranches, Pomfreds and several Black Cod.
From all of the crew at Jetty Dive Centre we would like to thank everybody who has dived, shopped, snorkeled or whale watched with us in 2015 we couldn’t of done it would out you! Have a happy New Year and see you again in 2016!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 15m-18m
Dive Report by Lindsay
