Dive Reports – January 2017
Take a look at our dive reports from January 2017! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in January 2017.
Dive Reports January 2017 – Table of Contents:
2ND JANUARY 2017 – VISIBILITY IMPROVES WITH GREAT SECOND DIVE
Today’s diving started with some very poor visibility at the Southern end of the Island on Dive 1 and finished with reasonably clear 10-15 mtrs Vis around the Gap on Dive 2.
Although it was a very low vis, they still saw heaps of Nudibranchs, a Lionfish and Wobbygongs on Dive 1. Dive 2 was the highlight with a Grey Nurse Shark at Boulder wall, Bull Ray City near the gap with heaps of Bull rays and a Shovel Nose ray and Eagle Ray at the Gantry.
A change in wind from the south this afternoon will surely increase the visibility back up to the post Christmas 15-20 mtrs after today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Mike
4TH JANUARY 2017 – WELCOMED SOUTHERLY WINDS
After a much needed southerly the water at the Solitary Islands had improved greatly. Wildfin tucked in behind South West Solitary with Open Water Students, while 2 Wild punched it out to South Solitary Island with the certified divers and Advanced Open Water students, both boats had really good conditions at the islands and plenty to see including Grey Nurse Sharks, a large array of Nudibranchs, lots of Wobbygongs, Spotted Sweetlips, Lionfish and lots more. Great to see the Blue Water coming back!
Photo taken by Sarah Devery.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C-23°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
6TH JANUARY 2017 – 30M VISIBILITY AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND!
Although the surface conditions weren’t fantastic, underwater was blue and clear!
Wildfin had taken the students to South West Solitary Island while 2 Wild steamed out to the 30m vis at South Solitary. The abundance of marine life at both islands was amazing, Grey Nurse Sharks, Blue Grouper, Blue Lipped Anemone fish, Painted Crayfish, Moray Eels, Eagle rays, Cuttlefish and a colourful Octopus were just some of the critters our divers seen today.
Congratulations to Glen, Melanie, Sarah, Josh and Martin who all completed the PADI Discover Scuba Course today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: South West Solitary – 20m, South Solitary, 30m
Dive Report by Lindsay
7TH JANUARY 2017 – BIG BLUE AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
With the sun out, and both boats loaded, we shot out to South Solitary Island for two morning dives.
Dive one was from Shark Gutters to South Boulder where our divers saw both Orangutan crabs in one Anemone, a pair of Eagle Rays, lots of Black Cod some painted Crayfish.
Dive two was Manta Arch to Shark gutters, although there was only one Grey Nurse Shark under the Arch and other fish life was plentiful, including Silver Travelly, a pair of Fire Gobies and a baby Yellow Boxfish.
Congratulations to James, Peta, Veronica, Mark, Billy, Kai, Abby and Sandra who all completed the PADI Open Water Course today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 30m
Dive Report by Andy
8TH JANUARY 2017 – OPEN WATER STUDENTS LAST DIVE IN 30M VISIBILITY!
We had an amazing morning out at South Solitary Island with an easy 30m visibility and a beautiful 24C on the bottom.
2 Wild made it to South Solitary Island first with a boat full of keen certified divers, Cleaner Station was the first choice followed by a split group at Black Rock and Shark gutters to The Gantry for dive two.
Wildfin arrived not long after with some Open Water Students, they jumped in at The Gantry first followed by a drift from Cleaner Station to South Boulder. All the dive locations had loads to see, while the Pomfreds and Tarwhine crowded the mooring line the Blackcod and Bullrays chilled in Cleaner Cave, Turtles everywhere on Boulder wall and a huge Lionfish at The Gantry. The group at Black Rock spotted lots of Wobbygongs and some rather large Kingfish.
Congratulations to Braden, Tyson, Alicia,Julian and Mirja who all finished the PADI Open Water Course!!
Congratulations to Sarah, David, Pauline, Lisa and Alison who all completed the PADI Discover Scuba Course!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 30m-35m
Dive Report by Andy
9TH JANUARY 2017- GREY NURSE SHARKS AGAIN AT MANTA
When the Clear Blue Warm Water comes our way we usually loose the large number of Grey Nurse sharks, however, today on Mike and Deb’s mystery dive, the Grey Nurses were back at Manta Arch and stacked up on each other! The visibility dropped from 25 mtrs down to 15 mtrs at the Arch, along with a couple of degrees of water temp which helped bring them in.
Other divers had a great time with sightings of Turtles, Bull-rays and Shovel-nose Rays with the warmer 20-25 mtr vis water at Buchanan’s Wall and then along the Boulder Wall on dive 2. A perfect day to start your Open Water diver course too, with Stephanie, Bella and Will enjoying the conditions on their courses.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C-23°C
- Visibility: Up to 25m
Dive Report by Mike
12TH JANUARY 2017 – TURTLES AND GREY NURSE SHARKS!
With both boats full of excited divers, we ventured out to South Solitary Island for today’s dives. Grey Nurse Sharks, Black Cod, Bullrays,our resident Orangutan Crabs, Cuttlefish, Pygmy Leatherjacket, lots of Rays and at least half a dozen Turtles, including “Barney” the Loggerhead.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 8m-10m
Dive Report by Andy
13TH JANUARY 2017 – Friday The 13th!
Students and certified divers experienced some close encounters with Grey Nurse Sharks at South Solitary Island. Dives were at the Northern End, seeing many Turtles, Grey Nurse Sharks, Wobbygongs, Nudis, Schooling Fish, Bull Rays, Crayfish, Octopus, Groupers, Black Cod, and an array or Wrasse.
Congratulations Tom, Matthew, Liam, and Liam in completing their Open Water Diver Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 8m-10m
Dive Report by Andy
14TH JANUARY 2017 – SPLIT SOLITARY LIGHTS UP!
A cheeky northerly made for a surprisingly clear couple of dives at Split Solitary Island. First stop at Turtle Cove, then followed by a second dive at Mikes mooring where we were greeted by a Turtle on the surface. Also lots of Nudis, Wobbys, Moray Eels, Crested Horn Shark, Heaps of Cuttlefish, Anemone Fish, Colourful Corals, Crayfish, Coral Shrimp and many more cool little critters.
Congratulations Kai, Clare and Mark in completing their Open Water Diver Course. Also Callum, Lachlan, Wade and Mel in completing their Advanced Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 10m-12m
Dive Report by Andy
15TH JANUARY 2017 – WILD RIDE!
From South Solitary to Grouper Island, divers faced some pretty wild conditions on the surface. Nevertheless, our keen divers embraced some great dives under the sea, seeing half a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks, Groupers, Masses of Schooling Fish, Crayfish, Turtle, Black Cod, Nudis, a Giant Cuttlefish and lots of Anemone Fish.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
17TH JANUARY 2017 – GREY NURSE SHARKS PACK INTO CLEANER CAVE
Today we had and easy trip out to South Solitary Island and a very relaxing morning soaking up the sun. The divers had the privilege to see about 10 Grey Nurse Sharks packed into Cleaner Station cave, lots of turtles at the gap, Octopus, Nudibranchs, Lionfish and huge schools of Pomfreds.
We would like to welcome to the underwater world Michelle and Woulter who have finished their PADI Open Water Course
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 10m-12m
Dive Report by Lindsay
18TH JANUARY 2017 – ESCAPING THE HEAT AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND!
Underwater at South Solitary Island was the ideal way to escape today’s heat. Buchanan’s Wall was the top spot for today’s first dive. Turtles, Grey Nurse and a single Hammerhead Shark were the highlights on this dive.
Round two was a drift from Shark Gutters to the Gantry. About 8 Grey Nurse packed the Shark Gutter while to Boulder Wall was teaming with schooling Tarwhine, Diamond Trevally, Goatfish, Turtles, Moray Eels, Stingrays and Nudis.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 8m-12m
Dive Report by Andy
20TH JANUARY 2017 – GREAT DAY FOR BLOWING BUBBLES!
Wow! What a day of diving! South Solitary Island was buzzing with life. Buchanan’s Wall was the ideal location for today’s first dive. Big schools of Bullseyes, Damsels and Tarwhine were congregating at the shallow end of the wall while some big Wobbegong Sharks were guarding the bottom down deep.
The choppy entry into Shark Gutters for dive two was well worth the effort as our divers got up close with two Grey Nurse at the bottom of the mooring. Turtles, Moray Eels, Lionfish and a large painted Cray were just some of the highlights on this dive.
Congratulations to Kayla, Sam, Clarence and Keanu on completing your PADI Open Water Course today!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 8m
Dive Report by Andy
23RD JANUARY 2017 – BLUE WATER CREEPING INTO SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
The blow from the South has pushed in some blue, warm water.
Both dives today were at South Solitary Island with the first at Buchanans Wall, our divers had some friendly Clown Fish, Turtles and a huge Eagle Ray at the safety stop.
Dive two was a sensational drift from Shark gutters down to The Gantry, although it was a little sloppy on the surface, under water was defiantly worth it. Cobia, Bullrays, Turtles, Eagle Rays, Painted Crayfish, Fusiliers and a monster Black Cod in Cleaner Station Cave.
Congratulations to Bella, Steph and Bonnie who all completed their Open Water Course today.
Visibility 8-15m
Temp 23.5C
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23.5°C
- Visibility: 8m-15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
24TH JANUARY 2017 – PADI OPEN WATER DIVERS!
A small crew of divers on 2 wild and a strong northerly breeze made for a quick trip out to Split Solitary Island. Turtle Cove and Mikes mooring were the days dive sites, seeing an abundance of marine life including Wobbygongs, Nudibranchs, tones of corals, Moray Eels, Giant Painted Crays, Slipper Crays, Baby faced Porcupine Fish, Schools of Bullseye and other schooling fish.
Congratulations Ellie and Georgina in completing their PADI Open Water Diver Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 5m-8m
Dive Report by Lindsay
26TH JANUARY 2017 – HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY DIVING!
What a day! North Solitary was 2 Wilds destination, seeing loads of anemones, Spanish Dancer, Hand Fish, Cowfish, close ups with Turtles, Colourful Nudis, Groupers, Black Cod, Eagle Rays, Crayfish, Eels and loads of Schooling Fish action.
Wild fin also had a group of divers and snorkelers at South Solitary Island where we were greeted by a pod of Dolphins while mooring up. First entry was Buchanans to the Gantry, and then followed by a Drift from Cleaner Station to The Gantry seeing Lionfish, Goupers, Black cod, Grey Nurse Sharks, Eagle rays on the surface, Nudis, Abbotts Moray Eels and so many more creatures of the sea.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: North: 22°C, South 21°C
- Visibility: North: 10m-12m, South 8m-10m
Dive Report by Lindsay
27TH JANUARY 2017 – BIG LIFE AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND!
Today’s diving at South Solitary Island was simply magic! If you have ever wanted to dive with Grey Nurse Sharks, Bull Rays, Eagle Rays, Turtles, Giant Black Cod and a trillion schooling fish, then this is the place to be!! Our divers saw all of this on just one dive!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Andy
28TH JANUARY 2017 – 26 DEGREES UNDERWATER!
We were some lucky divers today at South Solitary Island. Calm, Warm and Blue were just some highlights of today’s diving as our Open Water students and certified divers sighted Blue Groupers, Black Cods, Nudis, Wobbygongs, Abbotts Moray Eels, a Cuttlefish, Anemone fish, colourful Wrasse, masses of Schooling Fish, Eagle Rays, Bull Rays, Grey Nurse Sharks, lots of Turtles and a pair of Octopus mating.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 26°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Andy
29TH JANUARY 2017 – LEOPARD SHARK ENCOUNTER AT SOUTH SOLITARY!
Today’s conditions were again fantastic for diving at South Solitary Island. The warm, blue, tropical water has set the island alive with warm water species. Amongst the Leopard Shark resting in Shark Gutters, our divers spotted Eagle Rays, Bull Rays, Grey Nurse Sharks and a school of Barracuda!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 20m-25m
Dive Report by Andy
30TH JANUARY 2016 – WARM AND BLUE AT SOUTH SOLITARY!
Spectacular conditions for diving today! The calm blue water at South Solitary allowed our divers to venture into the back gutters on the western side of the island. Here we found 15 or more Grey Nurse patrolling the shallows. Amongst the Grey Nurse, we spotted Bull Rays, Turtles, Black Cod, Blue Angel Fish and loads of schooling Tarwhine and Goatfish.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- VIsibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Andy
