Dive Reports – February 2023
Take a look at our dive reports from February 2023! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in February 2023.
February 2023 Dive Reports – Table of Contents:
2ND FEBUARY 2023 – GREAT CONDITIONS AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
With only a small group of divers “2 Wild” steamed out to South Solitary Island. One group of divers dropped in at Manta Arch, while the remainder moored up at Cleaner Station. Both groups got up close with Grey Nurse Sharks, Wobbegong Sharks, Black Cod, Nudibranchs, Moray Eels.
After morning tea all divers descended on Shark Gutters mooring, drifting around to the Gantry. The Wall had it all including Bullrays, Eagle rays, Moray Eels, schools of Fish and in the Gap three huge green Turtles were seen chilling out getting their shells cleaned.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by
5th Febuary 2023 – Leopard Sharks still here
South Solitary Island provided everyone with some great dives today!!
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall we had a slight north moving current and very patchy visibility/temp spots on the bottom.
There was still lots to see including Blue Tangs, Pufferfish, Black Cod, Bullrays and a large Wobbegong scoping the bottom.
We descended on Sharks Gutters for dive two and the conditions had increased dramatically!
There were two Leopard Sharks cruising in and out of the gutters, Turtles, Yellow Box Fish, an Orangutang Crab in Shark Gutters and a lone Grey Nurse Shark near Boulder Wall
Congratulations Amy, Ella, Eleanor and Peter who finished their PADI Open Water Course and to Brayden, Tahlia and Graham who completed the PADI Discover Scuba Course!!
Photo taken today by Lindsay
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C-23°C
- Visibility: 8m-15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
8th February 2023 – Clear Blue Water at Manta Arch!
Despite the overcast conditions Megawild loaded up with some very keen divers and steamed out to South Solitary Island for some awesome diving!
First up half our divers dropped in at Manta Arch (where despite the overcast conditions the visibility was AMAZING!) for a swim to Cleaner Station, whilst the remainder dropped in at Cleaner Station. Around a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks were seen in and around the Arch, along with Nudibranchs, Blue Grouper, Anemonefish, Moray Eels, and a massive Marbled Ray sleeping in Cleaner Cave.
For our second dive our divers descended on Cleaner Station mooring for a drift dive to South Boulder. Along the way juvenile Yellow Boxfish (today’s Photo from our eagle eyed instructor Nathan), Nudibranchs, Spanish Dancers, a Persian Carpet Flatworm, juvenile Semicircle Angelfish, Octopus, Orangutan Crabs, Black Cod and Peacock Sole were seen.
Congratulations to Eliza on completing her PADI Open Water Diver course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C-24°C
- Visibility: 25m+
Dive Report by Nathan
10th February 2023 – Manta Finally Seen Near Manta Arch!
Despite the dark and dreary weather this morning that obscured South Solitary from view for most of the boat trip out, 2Wild arrived at South Solitary to some amazing conditions!
First up our divers split up with some dropping in at Manta Arch, and the remainder dropping in at Cleaner Station. A Dozen Grey Nurse were seen in the Arch, along with Nudibranchs, Blue Grouper, Banded Coral Shrimp, Saddled Pufferfish and Dwarf Lionfish. A Sandbar Shark was also briefly glimpsed by one group.
After morning tea our divers again split up, with most dropping in at Shark Gutters and others dropping in at the Back Gutter, with both swimming/drifting to the Gantry. A lone Grey Nurse with a rather nasty hook was seen in the back gutter, heaps of Turtles and a surprise visit by a small Manta Ray near the Gap were among the highlights for that group, meanwhile on the other side of the island the divers were hanging with three Leopard Sharks near North Boulder, Eagle Rays, Turtles and Nudibranchs.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C-24°C
- Visibility: 20-25m
Dive Report by Nathan
11th February 2023 – Sensational Diving at South Solitary
Megawild loaded up with diver and headed out to find perfect diving conditions at South Solitary Island!
For the first dive our divers rolled in at Buchanan’s Wall and Cable Trail. Nudibranchs, Fire Gobies, Pufferfish, Peppermint Shrimp, Dunkers Pipehorse, Octopus and a pair of Ornate Ghostpipefish were amongst the highlights.
After the surface interval our divers dropped in at Shark Gutters for a drift to the Gantry, more Nudibranchs were seen (including todays photo of the Marionia Sp. found and photographed by our instructor Nathan), along with Black Cod, Blue Grouper, Turtles and a massive Marbled Ray.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-24°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Andy
17th february 2023 – Larry the leopard at south solitary
Excited to be back diving after a few days off due to rough seas, we made our way to South Solitary in style aboard our world class dive boat, Mega Wild. Jumping in at the Cleaner Station on dive one, the divers got to mix with an array of sub-tropical and temperate water marine life. The highlights on dive one included black cod, cow tail rays, schooling trevally, and a lonely leopard shark who stole the show on this dive.
A very light current made easy swimming from the Cleaner Station to the Gantry on dive two. Eagle rays, painted crays, moray eels, box fish, turtles and a friendly juvenile emperor angelfish who was happy to mix with the divers.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
18th February 2023 – Leopard Sharks, Grey Nurse and so much more!
Summer diving at the Solitaries offers an amazing array of marine life as the warm water from the Eastern Australian Current often finds it’s way zig zagging throughout the islands.
Today’s highlights included 12 or more grey nurse sharks who were mingling under Manta Arch while two or more leopard sharks were spotted circling the top end.
The gap of the island was also full of life, our divers counting more than 6 turtles as they drifted passed to the Gantry.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 8m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
19th February 2023 – Divers delight at South Solitary
Today South Solitary amazed us once again with the variety of marine life which call the island home. Slipping in at Buchanan’s Wall on dive one, the divers spotted turtles, black cod, banded coral shrimp, ornate ghost pipefish and a lonely grey nurse shark.
Taking advantage of the current, dive two was spent drifting from Shark Gutters to the Gantry. While the northern end of the island was teaming with big fish action, the Boulder Wall was buzzing with schools of goatfish, pomfrets, mado and sweep.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
20th February 2023 – Manta Monday at South Solitary
Today we took a small boat of divers to South Solitary Island, off the Coffs Harbour coast, for a double dive.
For the first dive, our groups dropped into Buchanan’s Wall, with one group heading deeper for some skills on their Sidemount Course. There were plenty of fish at buchanan’s, including some black cod. There were also green turtles spotted on this dive, and spindle cowry, along with moray eels. There was also a mosaic moray on this dive. The real star of the show however, was the Manta Ray that cruised around with our divers for around 15 minutes! The manta was hanging around, enjoying getting cleaned by some koby!
For the second dive, our divers drifted from Shark Gutters to The Gantry. On this dive there was heaps of fishlife in Boulder Wall, and once again the Manta joined our divers at South Boulder. They also saw a leopard shark on this dive, and plenty of turtles in the gap.
Check out our instagram to see footage of the Manta taken by diver Paris G and instructor Stuart. Today’s picture was taken by Instructor Bryce!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 10m
Dive Report by Tara
21st February 2023 – More and more leopard sharks
Today was a lovely day on the water for a dive!
For our first dive, we dropped our divers down into Buchanan’s Wall. Here they saw Bull Rays alongside schooling fish. There were Chevron Barracuda which are a smaller type of barracuda, and a huge Green Sea Turtle, along with some smaller ones! There were also some nudibranches, and 3 leopard Sharks spotted on this dive!
The second dive was a lovely drift from Shark Gutters to the Gantry. This dive was teeming with fishlife, including Fusiliers and Moray Eels! There were also black cod, and more turtles on this dive! When cruising near the gap there were at least half a dozen Leopard Sharks seen, along with some more turtles.
Today’s video of Leopard Sharks is viewable on our Instagram and Facebook!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Tara
25th February 2023 – Happy leopards at South solitary
It was great to be back out diving today after the last southerly blow. Sheltered from the residual swell we slipped in at Shark Gutters for today’s first dive. Leopard sharks, black cod, morays and masses of schooling goatfish and pomfrets made up just some of the highlights.
Very little current allowed us to move up and down the Boulder Wall on dive two. Fleeting eagle rays, turtles, more leopard sharks and the tiniest of yellow box fish were some of the favorite’s on this dive.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 8m-10m
Dive Report by Andy
26th February 2023 – Sensational North and South Solitary!
With 2 Wild steaming to North Solitary Island and Mega Wild stopping off at South Solitary, our divers were in for some awesome diving today. The highlights at South Solitary included leopard sharks, grey nurse sharks, turtles and morays while North Solitary was hosting eagle rays, a dozen or more leopard sharks and a friendly loggerhead turtle.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
27th February 2023 – Starting the new week at South Solitary Island
With a small group of divers today we headed out to South Solitary for a double dive trip.
The first dive was set at Buchanan’s Wall. Here we had sightings of schooling fish, along with anenomefish. There were also nudibranchs spotted down the wall. Our divers saw a bull ray, some turtles, and plenty of Black Cod throughout the dive.
On the second dive our groups headed from Shark Gutters to the Gantry. Here again they saw huge amounts of fish life throughout the dive, on boulder wall. The highlight of this dive was 4 leopard sharks that were spotted in the gap. More turtles were spotted here, too.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Tara
28th Febuary 2023 ‘last day of summer’ at south solitary island.
“2 Wild” steamed out this morning with a boat full of excited divers eager to get into the water. Manta Arch was the preferred site for the dive one making there way round to Cleaner Station. Manta Arch had at least half a dozen male Grey Nurse Sharks, a very large female and a couple of juveniles.
Also seen on this dive were Moray eels, Black Cod, Anemone fish, schooling Surgeon Fish, and Trevally,
After morning tea all divers dropped in on Shark Gutters for a nice drift dive around to the Gantry. What a dive!!! The marine life seen were bulls-eyes, pomfreds, blue fusiliers, goat fish, trumpet fish, blue tangs, black cod, wobbegong sharks. Divers finished off sighting Leopard Sharks, Eagle Rays, and Green Turtles.
Congratulations to Abby on completing her PADI advanced Open Water Course
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
