Dive Reports – December 2018
Take a look at our dive reports from December 2018! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in December 2018.
Dive Reports December 2018 – Table of Contents:
1ST DECEMBER 2018 – SUMMER IS HERE!
The first day of Summer did not disappoint as the conditions at South Solitary were amazing today. The water temp is now up to 23 degrees and the visibility 20-25 meters! Turtles, Grey Nurse Sharks, Black Cod and another Hammerhead sighting were the highlights on dive one! Dive two was spent enjoying the Boulder Wall. Lots of schooling Tarwhine, Goatfish and Trevally. Plenty of Turtles to see too!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 20m-25m
Dive Report by Andy
2nd December 2018-Two Island dive and snorkel Day
We dived and snorkelled both islands today, with some great sites to see on both. Dive 1 started at Cleaner Station with a few Grey Nurse Sharks in the gutter. Tarwhine and Silver Trevally were everywhere, along with heaps of Goatfish and Surgeonfish. Cruising around on a slight current to the gap, we caught site of heaps more fish and a sleepy turtle. We finished off with a Big Bull ray getting cleaned by some Butteryflyfish.
Dive 2 at Split Solitary was not as clean, but the saw a few Wobbegongs and schools of Pomfreds along with all the little critters.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22.5°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Mike
4th December 2018 – Green Sea Turtle Begging for a Scratch
Sea conditions today were rather pleasant and the marine life under water was awesome!!
Dive one was at Shark Gutters where we had a look around Cleaner Cave and surrounding gutters, we had some awesome encounters with a few Grey Nurse Sharks and Nudibranch hunting, a very large Spanish Dancer was the highlight.
We got in for dive two at Shark Gutters and finished at South Boulder, plenty to see including Black Cod, Sweetlips, Tarwhine, Grey Nurse Sharks and a very friendly Green Sea Turtle which turned its back to the divers and demanded a scratch!!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 12m-18m
Dive Report by Lindsay
7th December 2018 – Blue Water at South Solitary island
The trip out to South Solitary Island was defiantly an adventure but the presence of blue clear water was well worth it!!
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall and as soon as we got to the bottom we had a Bullray and Green Sea Turtle cruise on past, we had plenty of Nudibranchs, Wobbegongs and a beautiful little Reindeer Wrasse spotted by one of our guides.
Dive two was a drift from Cleaner Station around to The Gantry, the visibility had improved with the slight current and plenty of marine life about including Grey Nurse Sharks, Slipper Lobsters, Eagle Rays, Moray Eels and a few Turtles near Five Metre Rock.
Visibility 18-25m
Temp 22C
Conditions Report:
- Temperature:
- Visibility:
Dive Report by Lindsay
8th December 2018 – South Solitary Buzzing with Life!
Sheltered from the easterly sea our first dive of the weekend was at Buchanan’s Wall. Plenty to see including Lionfish, Black Cod, Turtles, Bull Rays and Nudibranches. Taking advantage of the slight current, dive two was spent drifting from Shark Gutters to the Gantry. Soooooooo much to see on this dive!!! Grey Nurse Sharks, HUGE Black Cod, bazillions of fish and umpteen Turtles were just some of the highlights.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Andy
9th December 2018 – Sunday Funday!
South Solitary Island didn’t disappoint today! Top to bottom, the island was full of life! Lots of Grey Nurse Sharks and Black Cod were spotted congregating at the northern end of the island while the Boulder Wall was teaming with Turtles and schooling fish! Our divers completing their PADI Rescue Diver Course even saw a Guitar Shark!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Andy
10th December 2018 – Certified at South Solitary Island
Underwater was the place to be this morning to keep out of the NW winds but we were treated to some good conditions!!
Dive one was at Buchanans Wall where we spotted lots of Nudibranchs, Wobbegongs, Lionfish and a lonely Grey Nurse Shark.
Dive two was a drift from Cleaner Station around to The Gantry, we had a couple Grey Nurse Sharks, schools of Tarwhine, Pomfreds, Kingfish and Travelly. We had a small Hawksbill Turtle in Cleaner Cave having a sleep and a few Bullrays along Boulder Wall.
Congratulations to Neville who finished his PADI Rescue Course today and Emily, Nyomi, and Heiko who finished their PADI Open Water Course too.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C-22°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
12th December 2018 – Upwelling Generates Plenty of Action!
Today’s flat sea made for a great trip out to South Solitary Island. Jumping in at the Cleaner Station for dive one we were greeted by “Barney” our resident Loggerhead Turtle who had been resting in the cave. The visibility was a little basic at the start of the dive but improved dramatically as some cold blue water moved in. Plenty of Grey Nurse Sharks, Black Cod, Bullrays and Lionfish were just some of the highlights.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-21°C
- Visibility: 5m-10m
Dive Report by Andy
18th December 2018 – McLean High Students Dive with Huge Turtle
Finally after a long spell we were out at South Solitary Island getting up close with the amazing marine life out there.
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall where we had plenty of Stripey’s and Blue Groupers greeting our divers near the mooring line, Wobbegongs and a lonely Bullray.
Dive two was decided to do a one way swim from Buchanan’s Wall up to The Gantry where we had a few Moray Eels, Slipper Lobsters, Snapper and a Huge Turtle who popped up from a sleep to surprise the McLean High School Open Water Students on their second scuba dive.
Visibility 8 – 12m
Temp 20 – 21C
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C-21°C
- Visibility: 8m-12m
Dive Report by Lindsay
19th December 2018-Certified MacLean Students
After a smooth trip out it was decided all divers would get in at Buchannans wall. Visibility had dropped a little from the previous day, but lots to see Bull rays, Turtles, Wobbegong Sharks, Blue Groupers. After morning tea the Maclean Students and Certified divers dropped in at Shark Gutters for a nice drift dive to the Gantry. Heaps of marine life on the wall Schools of Tarwhine, Bulls eyes, a lonely Grey nurse shark was spotted, a couple of Green Turtles and a mantis shrimp that narrowly avoided becoming an octopus’s lunch!!
Congratulations to all Maclean High School Students on passing there Open Water Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 8m-10m
Dive Report by Andy
20th December 2018. Nice dive even with low visibility.
Whilst the visibility was down like yesterday, our divers still saw heaps today.
On Buchanan’ Wall we saw unusual stuff, like a large Bubbleshell slug, Baby Lionfish and Yellow Boxfish. On the gutter to the south they saw a large Pipefish. Dive two at the Gantry highlights were Turtles and a Mantis Shrimp with the usual Clownfish in the large bed of anemones. All along both dives was large amount of Wobbegongs and Bullseyes.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 5m-8m
Dive Report by Mike
22nd December 2018 – HAMMERHEADS!!!
After a few days of poor visibility it was nice to see some clean water at South Solitary Island again. Today’s first dive was at Manta Arch where some of our divers were lucky enough to see 20 to 30 Hammerhead Sharks. Plenty of Grey Nurse Sharks, Black Cod, Nudibranchs and Turtles were just some of the highlights.
Dive two was spent exploring Shark Gutters and the Cleaner Station. Lots of big fish action on this dive! We even found our resident Frog Fish who has apparently relocated to a new little hidey hole.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C-20°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
24th December 2018 – Christmas Eve Cracker
Christmas Eve went off with a bang as we had both 2Wild and Wildfin out with a lots of keen divers.
Plenty to see on both dives for everyone including Grey Nurse Sharks, Barney the Logger Head Turtle, one Orangutan Crab, juvenile black Boxfish, a couple of Octopus, huge schools of fish around Cleaner Station and a small school of Hammerheads.
Visibility 10-15m
Temp 19 – 21C
All the staff at Jetty Dive Centre would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C -21°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
26th December Boxing Day Dive
After a pleasant trip out it was decided all divers would get in at Buchannans Wall. Marine life was Plentiful, Bull-rays, Loggerhead Turtle, Wobbegong Sharks, Blue Groupers, Nudibranchs. After morning tea we headed up to the top end of the island, Dive two was from Cleaner Station to the Gantry. Two Grey Nurse sharks were spotted, Black Cod in the Gutters, Schools of Tarwhine, Bull eyes, Bull rays on the move. A monster Octopus and heaps of Turtles were also seen.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Andy
27th December 2018 – Hammer Head Sharks makes Happy Customers
With both Wildfin and 2Wild out today full of keen bubble blowers South Solitary Island was the pick for the day.
Everyone on both boats had a brilliant day and seen plenty on both dives including Grey Nurse Sharks, Bullrays, a tiny Boxfish at Buchanan’s Wall mooring, roughly 9 Turtles near the Gap, a Reindeer Wrasse, Octopus, and 20-30 Scalloped Hammer Head Sharks around in the back gutter!!
Congratulations to Bojana who completed her PADI Discover Scuba Dive today and spotted the Hammer Head Shark!!!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 18m-20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
28th December 2018 – Summer Diving at The Solitaries!
With good conditions both Wildfin and Too Wild cruised out to south solitary for some premier diving!
Dive one saw the divers from Too Wild descend onto Manta Arch, where several Grey Nurse, a Spotted eagle Ray and an Orangutan Crab were seen. Meanwhile Wildfin’s divers dropped into Buchanan’s Wall, where a solitary Grey Nurse, a couple of large Green Turtles, a Hawksbill Turtle were amongst the highlights.
After the surface interval all divers dropped in at Shark Gutters for a semi-drift dive around to the Gantry, several Turtles were seen, along with Grey Nurse, Bull Rays, Mantis Shrimp, and Nudibranchs.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C-21°C
- Visibility: 15m-18m
Dive Report by Lindsay
29th December 2018 – Fishapalooza at South Solitary!
Good conditions saw both boats heading out to South Solitary for a morning of exciting dives!
The divers from Wildfin dropped in at Manta Arch for a swim through the Gap to the Gantry; several Grey Nurse were seen, along with an Orangutan crab, Scorpion Leaf Fish and one particularly large Hawksbill turtle in the Gap. Meanwhile the divers from Too Wild descended on Buchanan’s Wall for their first dive; where they saw Wobbegongs, Green Turtles and a Blue Ringed Octopus.
After morning tea Wildfin’s divers rolled in at Cleaner Station for a drift dive to the Gantry; whilst those from Too Wild got in at Shark Gutters also Drifting to the Gantry. Several large male Grey Nurse were seen off North Boulder Wall, along with a big Bull Ray, Cuttlefish, Nudibranchs and a plethora of schooling Fusiliers and Tarwhine.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-21°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Andy
30th December 2018 – Turtle Mania at South Solitary Island
With the holiday season in full swing and only two days left for 2018 we have been very busy with both Wildfin and 2Wild out again today.
Dives sites today were Buchanan’s Wall, The Gantry, and a drift from Cleaner Station down to The Gantry all the divers had a good time and seen lots of different things including Grey Nurse Sharks, Bullrays, Wobbegongs, Snapper, another Orangutan Crab at Buchanan’s Wall, Kingfish, and that many Turtles near The Gap people lost count!!
Congratulations to Linden and Jeremy who completed their PADI Scuba Diver Course today
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-20°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
31st December 2018 – Last Dives for 2018!!
We wrapped up the year with two great dives at South Solitary Island today. Hiding from the northerly wind, Buchanan’s Wall provided us with ideal conditions for dive one. Octopus, Turtles, Wobbegong Sharks, Box Fish and plenty of Moray Eels were spotted on this dive.
After an adventurous entry into Shark Gutters, our divers made their way down the Boulder Wall to the Gantry. Plenty of big fish action on this dive! Grey Nurse Sharks, Eagle Rays, Guitar Sharks, Black Cod and our friendly Angler Fish!
Temp 18-22c, Vis 10-15m.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C-22°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
