Dive Reports – February 2024

1st February 2024 -Fresh Visibility for a Fresh Month!

SoWild loaded up and powered out to South Solitary, where on arrival our divers found the visibility had jumped overnight!

First up our divers descended on Cleaner Station mooring. multiple Bull Rays, Nudibranchs, Dwarf Lionfish, Painted Crayfish an Eastern Frogfish and a mystery Snail (today’s photo, found by our instructor Nathan) were amongst the highlights.

For the Second dive our divers dropped in on Manta Arch to explore. 15+ Grey Nurse Sharks were seen in the Back Gutter, along with a sleeping Bull Ray and a Hawksbill Turtle, elsewhere around Manta Arch Black Cod, Ken’s Cuttlefish, Nudibranchs were seen.

Conditions Report:

• Temperature: 21°C-23°C
• Visibility: 8m-15m

Dive Report By Nathan

2nd February 2024 -Sharks Pack Back into Manta Arch!

Today SoWild made it’s way out to South Solitary Island for a double dive!

For the first dive we dropped into Manta Arch. 21 Grey Nurse Sharks were packed into the Arch, along with our resident Painted Angler, Nudibranchs, Queensland Grouper, Cuttlefish, a Spanish Dancer and Black Cod were also seen.

For our second dive our divers were dropped in at Shark Gutters for a drifty swim to the Gantry! Highlights of the dive included Green Turtles, Nudibranchs, Orangutan Crabs, a pair of Leopard Sharks, and a Tiger Egg Cowrie (today’s Photo, again from our instructor Nathan).

Conditions Report:

• Temperature: 19°C(at depth at Manta Arch)- 23°C
• Visibility: 10m-20m

Dive Report By Nathan

4th February 2024 -amazing vis!

With the foreboding (but somewhat inaccurate) weather forecast SoWild loaded up with some super keen divers and plowed out to South Solitary for today’s diving!

On arrival we found the visibility to be an a-freaking-mazing 30-35m! First up our certified divers dropped in at Shark Gutters to explore the top end, a massive school of Chevron Baracuda were seen chilling out around the Cleaner Station mooring, highlights of the rest of the dive included a Nudibranchs, Green Turtles, a Queensland Grouper, Black Cod, a Bull Ray and a massive Spotted Eagle Ray!

After the Surface interval all our divers dropped in at the Gantry. During the dive a dozen Green Turtles were seen hanging out in the Gap, Nudibranchs, Spanish Dancers, Blue-lipped Wide-band Anemonefish, Fire Gobies, Ring-eyed Hawkfish and a pair of Leopard Sharks were also seen!

Conditions Report:

• Temperature: 24°C-26°C
• Visibility: 30m-35m

Dive Report By Nathan

14th February 2024 – Good Visibility Back for Valentines Day!

After a seemingly endless break from the water SoWild loaded up and steamed out to South Solitary for todays diving!

First up our divers descended on Buchanan’s Wall, where despite the visibility macro was the flavor of the day! Nudibranchs, Porcelain Crabs, Coral Crabs, Banded Coral Shrimp, Blue-Lipped Wide- Band Anemonefish and juvenile Yellow Boxfish were amongst the highlights.

After the surface interval our divers dropped in at Shark Gutters for a drift to The Gantry. More Nudibranchs and juvenile Yellow Boxfish were on the menu, along with Bull Rays, Black Cod, Green & Hawksbill Turtles, Golden Egg Cowries, Flatworms, and a very chilled out Leopard Shark!

Conditions Report:

• Temperature: 22°C-24°C
• Visibility: 15m-20m

Dive Report By Nathan

15th February 2024- Fish Soup

“Megawild” took the mid week opportunity to steam out to South Solitary Island this morning, with low winds and low swell.

Upon arrival, we were greeted with blue water and the top end looked inviting. Our first dive we descended at Shark Gutters for a cruise around the gutters. Some of the highlights of this dive was a Semicircle angelfish, a lonesome Leopard Shark, a massive and very friendly Loggerhead Turtle, an Eagle Ray, and a Honeycomb Moray. Instructor Nathan and his deep dive student saw loads of sharks out deep, some being Sandbar Sharks and possibly a Great Hammerhead.

Still buzzing from our first dive, we finished our surface interval and got back in at Shark Gutters for a drift down to South Boulder. The sea was teeming with marine life on this dive! Lots of schooling fish were around the Boulder Wall. A school of Chevron Barracuda were seen, along with loads of Black Cod hanging out in around the wall. Big Bull Ray’s, Coral Banded Shrimp, Nudibranchs, cuttlefish, and more Leopard Sharks were some other highlights.

Congratulations Montanna and Jacob on completing your PADI Open Water Diver Course!

Conditions Report:

• Temperature: 25°C
• Visibility: 20m

Dive Report By Teagan

16th February 2024 – Grey Skies and Great Visibility!

Despite the bleak weather MegaWild loaded up and steamed out to South Solitary for todays diving!

First up our divers dropped into some amazing visibility at Buchanan’s Wall, while our advanced group hot dropped on Cable Trail. Wobbegongs, Spotted Eagle Rays, Nudibranchs, Porcupinefish, Black Boxfish, Banded Coral Shrimp and Green Turtles were amongst the highlights of the dive.

For the Second dive our certified divers dropped in at Shark Gutters for a drift dive to the Gantry. Multiple Spotted Eagle Rays were seen during the dive, along with Nudibranchs, variouis Egg Cowries, Bull Rays, Leopard Sharks, Green Turtles, a very curious Peacock Mantis Shrimp and our resident Loggerhead Barney even cruised past our divers during her dinner (a main course of Sea Urchins)!

Conditions Report:

• Temperature: 22°C-25°C
• Visibility: 25m

Dive Report By Nathan

17th February 2024 – North & South Saturday!

Taking Full advantage of the great conditions SoWild loaded up and headed up to North Solitary, while Megawild powered out to South Solitary!

At South Solitary first up our divers dropped in at Buchanan’s Wall. Highlights included a little Eastern Blue Devilfish, Nudibranchs (the highlight being a a Bornella Sp.), Green Turtles, Banded Coral Shrimp, Decorator Crabs, Stingarees and a Dunker’s Pipehorse(today’s photo courtest of our instructor Nathan).

For the second dive our divers descended on Shark Gutters for a drift to South Boulder. During the dive Black Cod, Bull Rays, Nudibranchs (the notable mention being a pair of Phylodesmium magnum), Painted Crayfish, Ken’s Cuttlefish, Schooling Bannerfish and four Leopard Sharks were seen!

Water Temperature: 22-25°C

Visibility: 25m+

Meanwhile at North Solitary SoWilds divers doubled up and did both dives at Anemone Bay because there was too much to see to fit in one dive! highlights included an over-abundance of Eaglerays & Leopard Sharks, Harlequin Tuskfish, Nudibranchs, Damselfish, Chevron Baracuda and schooling Moon Wrasse.

Water Temperature: 24-25°C

Visibility: 30m+

Conditions Report:

• Temperature: South: 22°C-25°C North: 24°C-25°C
• Visibility: South: 25m+ North: 30m+

Dive Report By Nathan

18th February 2024 – Mike’s Missing Cup Recovered after three week Vacation!

With the amazing conditions just getting better & better MegaWild loaded up and cruised out to South Slitary for today’s diving!

First up our divers dropped in at Buchanan’s Wall where the bottom was clearly visible from the boat! Highlights of the dive included a massive Spotted Eagle Ray, two male Dunker’s Pipehorses (both carying eggs), Nudibranchs (highlight being the Large red Goniobranchus Sp. on the wall), Stingarees, an Eastern Blue Devilfish, juvenile Yellow Boxfish and Green Turtles.

For the second dive our advanced group dropped in at Manta Arch for a swim through the Gap to the Gantry, 20 Grey Nurse Sharks were found in the arch, along with Nudibranchs (though technically not a nudibranch, the notable mention was a massive Umbraculoidea Sp.), Fire Gobies, Barney the Loggerhead Turtle was seen chilling in the shallows, and three Silky Whalers were found cruising in the middle of the Gap!

Also of note was a Coffee Cup dropped from SoWild by our very own Mike Davey several weeks ago was finally recovered from the bottom near the Back Gutter by our instructor Nathan.

Meanwhile our other divers dropped in at Shark Gutters for a drift to the Gantry. Highlights of their dive included Spotted Eagle Rays, Leopard Sharks, Ken’s Cuttlefish, Peacock Mantis Shrimp and a tiny Leopard Blenny!

Conditions Report:

• Temperature: 22°C-25°C
• Visibility: 30m-35m

Dive Report By Nathan

19th February 2024 – Lovely Start To The Week

Today we headed out to South Solitary for some more dives in the lovely blue, clear water! With several groups of Open Water Students, Advanced Open Water Students, and Certified

For the first dive, some groups headed from Shark Gutters to the Gantry, while others headed from South Boulder to the Gantry . Divers saw a huge variety of fishlife, from Semicircle Angelfish, Old Wives, Bullseys, Fusiliers, and plentry of Moon Wrasse! There were Nudibranches, Mooray Eels, Black Cod, Brassy Drummer, Juvenile Magpie Sweetlips, and plenty more fish! Some divers saw 2 Leopard Sharks circling around while on Boulder Wall, and others saw 2 big Bull Rays cruising past. We also spotted a lone turtle at the gap! There was so much to see.

On the second dive some people dropped into Manta Arch to head through to Cleaner Station, some dropped in at Cleaner Station, while other divers headed towards South Boulder. There were about 8-10 Grey Nurse Sharks in the arch, and divers also spotted a couple of octopus in the sandy area on the outside of Manta Arch. Some divers saw some Eagle Rays cruising around near Cleaner Station, while other divers got to see a Leopard Shark at the start of their dive at Cleaner. There were our usual sightings of Blue Gropers, Black Cod, and plenty more schooling fish!

Congratulations to our newest PADI Open Water Scuba Divers! Erin, Jeff, Amos, Max, AJ, Shaun, Melina, Marissa! And also our newest Advanced Open Water Divers Dee and Matt!

Conditions Report:

• Temperature: 22°C-25°C
• Visibility: 30m-35m

Dive Report By Tara

20th February 2024 – Greynurse Galore in Manta Arch!

Dive one was at Cleaner station and we were welcome to beautiful, warm water again and 30m visibility!!!
There was huge schools of bulleyes and travally around the mooring, Turtles and Blue groupers in the gutters and a school of Schevron Barracuda at the safety stop.

Dive 2 had half the boat in at Manta Arch and half the boat in at Sharkgutters, these dives were awesome and a great way to finish the Open Water Divers certifications.

There were 20 Greynurse Sharks in the arch, and a couple Silky Whalers up in the mid water, also Eagle Rays, Bullrays, Leopard Blennys, Moray Eels, and a lone Leopard Shark around north Boulder.

Congratulations to Cathy, Joey, Danielle and Andrew who all finished their PADI Open Water Course today.

Photo taken today by Lindsay

Conditions Report:

• Temperature: 21°C-25°C
• Visibility: 25m-30m

Dive Report By Nathan

21st February 2024 -Surprisingly Good Hump-Day!

With conditions forecast to pick up (as of yesterday) SoWild loaded up and powered out to South Solitary for today’s diving! on the trip out the boat was swarmed by a massive pod of Dolphins,causing a minor traffic delay on the trip out.

Dive one saw our divers drop in at Manta Arch for a swim with the Grey Nurse. Over 25 Grey Nurse Sharks were seen in and around the arch, other highlights included Nudibranchs (though technically not a nudibranch the highlight was a Bubbleshell: Micromelo undulatus), Orangutan Crabs, Octopus, Spotted Eagle Rays and a Queensland Grouper.

For Dive Two our divers descended on Shark Gutters for a swim to South Boulder. Along the way Nudibranchs (notable nudi for the dive being a Coryphellina Sp.), juvenile Yellow Boxfish, a Beutiful Egg Cowrie, an Eastern Frogfish, a Thorny-back Cowfish (today’s photo courtesy of our instructor Nathan), Black Cod, Longlegged Spiny Lobster and a Leopard Shark were seen.

Conditions Report:

• Temperature: 25°C-21°C
• Visibility: 25m

Dive Report By Nathan

26th February 2024- Beautiful day to be back in the water

After a few days out of the water, SoWild loaded up and blasted off to South Solitary for some blue water diving! The first dive was a nice and easy drop in at the top end, with our advanced divers getting in at Manta Arch whilst our students got in at Shark Gutters. The blue water has stuck around despite the big winds we’ve just had! The highlights of this dive were the 20 Grey Nurse Sharks seen in the arch. We also spotted a Pink Painted Angler Fish, heaps of Octopus, a Yellow Box Fish, and lots of colourful Nudibranchs.

After a sunny surface interval, we got in at Shark Gutters for our second dive for a cruisy swim down to The Gantry. Some friendly and interactive Green Sea Turtles were seen in and around the gap. Other notable marine life seen on this dive was an Eastern Fiddler Ray, Spotted Eagle Ray hanging out on Five metre Rock, and our usual little friends hanging out in rocks like Moray Eels and Coral Banded Shrimp.

Congratulations Duncan on completing your PADI Open Water Diver Course!!

Conditions Report:

• Temperature: 21°C-26°C
• Visibility: 15m-20m

Dive Report By Teagan

27th February 2024- a day TO SEE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING?

Divers had a really lovely trip out to South Solitary Island this morning on SoWild, keen for a double dive.

First up, we had a group of divers descend at Manta Arch and swim through to Shark Gutters where our other divers were! This was a great dive with a lot to see, the highlight being the 20-30 Grey Nurse Sharks seen in the Arch! Other notable marine life seen were Queensland Groupers, Green Sea Turtles, Golden Egg Cowry, both Cuttlefish and Multiple octopus, Orangutangs Crabs, a Pink Painted Angler Fish, and loads of Nudi’s!

After an hour or so on the surface, we again descended at Manta Arch. One group swam through the gutter around to South Boulder whilst our other dive group swam through the gap and back up to South Boulder. Some serious distance was covered! On this dive, our students had a baby Remora following them the entire dive, obviously wanting to learn how to blow bubbles! We also saw multiple Eastern Blue Spotted Sting Ray potentially mating, Black Cod, a massive Longlegged Spiny Lobster, a Loggerhead having a feed on an Anenome, and more Grey Nurse Sharks!

Congratualtions Laerke and Christen on completing your PADI Open Water Diver Course!

Conditions Report:

• Temperature: 22°C-26°C
• Visibility: 15m-20m

Dive Report By Teagan