Dive Reports – January 2023
Take a look at our dive reports from January 2023! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in January 2023.
January 2023 Dive Reports – Table of Contents:
2nd January 2023 – New Years Dive!
With the calendar resetting Megawild loaded up and steamed out to South Solitary for the first dives of the new year!
First up Our divers dropped on Buchanan’s Wall; an Ornate Ghostpipefish, juvenile Yellow Boxfish, Green Turtles and Nudibranchs (including a pair of Phyllodesmium magnum) were found along the wall.
For the second dive our divers rolled in at Buchanan’s Wall for a swim to the Gantry. Along the way Hawksbill Turtles, Octopus, Eagle Rays and a Honeycomb Moray were seen.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-23°C
- Visibility: 5m-15m
Dive Report by Nathan
3rd January 2023 – Blue Water Back at South!
With the swell still rolling in both boats loaded up and slogged their way out to South Solitary for today’s dives.
In light of the prevailing surface conditions a somewhat murky Buchanan’s Wall was the pick of the sites. During the dive Ornate Ghostpipefish, Wobbegongs, Nudibranchs, Blue Grouper, Banded Coral Shrimp, and a Green Turtle were seen.
During the surface interval something very unexpected happened… Clean, clear blue water arrived at the island!
With the arrival of the clear water our boats split up, Megawild diving the now clear Buchanan’s Wall a second time, and 2wild diving the Gantry. Marbled Rays, Damsels, juvenile Yellow Boxfish, and Hawksbill Turtles were among the highlights of the dive.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C-24°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m (dive one), 25m+ (dive two)
Dive Report by Nathan
4th January 2023 -Honeycomb Moray making South Sol Home
Buchanan’s Wall was the first choice today as we still had a large swell present from the NE. We had a very distinct thermocline (5°), below 16m was 19°C and above was 24°C so you can guess where we spent our time!
The abundance of marine life down near Cable Trail was amazing with huge schools of Mackerel Tuna, Bullseyes, Fusiliers, Sweep, some very large Black Cod, a Hawksbill Turtle Marbled Rays and Eagle Ray.
Dive two we braved the top end and dropped in at Cleaner Station, it was a good decision as Boulder Wall was like swimming through fish soup. There was two huge Bullrays, another bigger Honeycomb Moray Eel, Painted Crayfish, five Turtles near The Gap, a large Cowfish and lots of Nudibranchs on Five metre rock.
Congratulations to Zoe, Eva, Jamie and Alexei who all finished their PADI Open Water Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-24°C
- Visibility: 4m-25m
Dive Report by Nathan
5th January 2023 – Giant Stingray at south!
With foreboding skies (and weather forecast) looming Megawild loaded up and headed out to South Solitary for today’s diving.
First up our divers dropped in, on, and around Buchanan’s Wall and the Cable Trail area. Despite low to moderate visibility (4-8m) some good diving was had, with a Spotted Eagle Ray, Dwarf Lionfish and Nudibranchs sighted. We also saw juvenile Boxfish, Porcelain Crabs, a massive Black Cod and a giant (3m) Giant Stingray having a nap amongst the highlights.
After a brief surface interval our divers Rolled in at Shark Gutters, where a plethitude of fish-life abounded. A lone Grey Nurse Shark was seen darting away towards Cleaner Station at the beginning of the dive, along with more Nudibranchs! We sighted our Orangutan Crab, who has found himself a girlfriend, as well as juvenile Yellow and Smooth Boxfish.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C-23°C
- Visibility: 5m-10m
Dive Report by Nathan
9th January 2023 – clear water for a New week
After a not so brief weather break, Megawild loaded up with divers and powered out to South Solitary for today’s diving.
First up our advanced divers rolled into crystal clear, blue water at Manta Arch for a swim to Cleaner Station. During the dive 20+ Grey Nurse Sharks were sighted in and around the Arch, including one having a bit of a jaw stretch (todays photo courtesy of our instructor Nathan). There was a further three Grey Nurses on the swim to Cleaner, too. On this dive we also saw Black Cod, Butterfly Fish and Blue Groupers.
For our second dive Megawild moved to Shark Gutters. Here we once again saw our resident Orangutan Crabs. We also spotted various Nudibranchs and some painted crays. We spotted an Angelfish, and plenty of Black Cod. Plus some diver favorites, with a Juvenile Yellow Boxfish and a Green Turtle.
Check our facebook or instagram for a video of the Grey Nurse stretching its jaw.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C-24°C
- Visibility: 20m-30m
Dive Report by Nathan
10th January 2023 -Itty Bitty Mantis Shrimp at South Solitary
With conditions about to go sideways tomorrow 2Wild and Megawild both loaded up and steamed out to the Islands for today’s diving.
2Wild headed for South Solitary where their divers rolled in at Shark Gutters, where Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Nudibranchs, baby Cuttlefish, juvenile Yellow Boxfish, Black Cod, Queensland Grouper, Orangutan Crabs and a HUGE Octopus were seen. Meanwhile Megawild made its way to South West Solitary where their divers dropped in at Coral Gardens, During their dive Nudibranchs, Egg Cowries, Butterfly Fish, Porcupine Fish and Green Turtles.
During the surface interval 2Wild made it’s way over to join Megawild at South West Solitary to drop its divers in the Crazy Maze. During the dives more Nudibranchs, were seen, along with Egg Cowries, Eagle Rays, some big Wobbegongs, a pair of Baracuda and a Clown Triggerfish.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°-24°
- Visibility: 15m-25m
Dive Report by Nathan
12th January 2023 – Blue Water Back at South
With almost perfect conditions setting in Megawild loaded up and headed out to South Solitary for todays diving.
First up our divers rolled in at Cleaner Station where Nudibranchs, juvenile Yellow Boxfish, Black Cod, Porcupine Fish and Orangutan Crabs being seen along the way.
For dive two our divers dropped in around Shark Gutters for a drift to the Gantry. along the way Octopus, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Black Cod, Painted Crays and Green Turtles were seen, the highlight being a fever of 9+ Spotted Eagle Rays circling on the bottom.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C-24°C
- Visibility: 25m+
Dive Report by Nathan
13th January 2023 – Freaky Fish Friday
Smooth seas saw Megawild Cruising out to South Solitary for today’s Diving.
First up our divers dropped in at Shark Gutters for a swim to South Boulder; Nudibranchs, Painted Crayfish, juvenile Yellow Boxfish, Black Cod, Mimic Filefish, Orangutan Crabs and a juvenile Emperor Angelfish were amongst the highlights.
Dive two saw our divers roll in between Manta Arch and the Back Gutter. A Dozen Grey Nurse were seen in the arch and one in the Back Gutter. Other Highlights included Banded Coral Shrimp, more Nudibranchs, Spanish Dancers, Green Turtles and a massive Octopus were also seen.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C-24°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Nathan
14th January 2023 – Smooth Saturday Seas
Despite the grey skies Megawild loaded up and cruised out to South Solitary on almost glassy water for todays diving.
First up our divers rolled in at Buchanan’s Wall. Nudibranchs, Banded Coral Shrimp, juvenile Yellow Boxfish, Ornate Ghostpipefish (today’s photo taken by our instructor Nathan) and a large male Green Turtle were amongst the highlights.
For the second dive, our divers descended on Shark Gutters for a drift to the Gantry. Black Cod, Spotted Eagle Rays, Marbled Rays, Turtles and Wobbegongs were seen along the way.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C-24°C
- Visibility: 8m-12m
Dive Report by Nathan
Leopard Shark at North Sol (N Fripp February 2023)
15th January 2023 – Solitary Islands provide the goods
Today 2Wild ventured up to North Sol while Mega Wild went to South Solitary Island.
2Wild’s divers ended up having dive one at Anemone Bay, a half tank dive at Fish Soup and half tank dive back in at NW Solitary Island. We had plenty to see including 7 Leopard Sharks, Eagle Rays, Shovel-nose Ray, spawning Damsels, lots of Moon Wrasse, Nudibranchs and a handsome looking Leopard Blenny.
Mega Wild was greeted to 30m visibility at South Solitary Island.
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall, we had Turtles, Eagle Rays, Wobbegongs and schools of Bullseyes.
Dive two was at Manta Arch, again the visibility was amazing and water temp was about 24-25C at the surface. There were 6-8 Grey Nurse under the Arch, Ghost Pipefish, Black Cod, Turtles, baby Anemone fish and a Mantis Shrimp.
Congratulations to the newly certified PADI Open Water Divers – Archie, Sofia, Ava, Rhys and Stephen.
Photo taken today by Nathan
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C-25°C
- Visibility: 20m-35m
Dive Report by Lindsay
16th January 2023 – 30m+ visibility at South
Today MegaWild headed out on smooth seas with divers and snorkellers on board. It was a beautiful day on the water, with incredibly calm conditions making it an ideal day for both snorkelling and diving.
For the first dive, our divers dropped into Buchanan’s Wall. The water was crystal clear, and our divers saw all sorts of fish life like blue and green moon wrasse, blue tangs, anenomefish, and blue groper. They saw a large black cod, plenty of wobbegongs, moray eels, and a big green sea turtle.
For the second dive, we steamed around to drop in at the back gutter. Here we headed through the gap to the gantry. In the gap there was more fishlife, lionfish, and a cruisey bull ray. We saw one small green sea turtle snoozing on top of a wobbegong towards the gantry.
Some of our snorkellers from the day mentioned they saw around 5 turtles, too!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 30m+
Dive Report by Tara
17th January 2023 – Blue Water Back at South!
Despite the dark and gloomy morning Megawild loaded up and headed out to South Solitary for today’s diving.
Dive one saw some of our divers drop in at Cleaner Station while the others dropped in at the Gantry. Nudibranchs, Green Turtles, were seen around the top end, many large Black Cod were seen in the Back Gutter, more Nudibranchs were seen in the Gap along with a massive Wobbegong eating a smaller Wobbegong (todays photo from our Instructor Nathan) and Spotted Eagle Rays.
Dive two saw our divers drop in at Cleaner Station for a swim to South Boulder, while our students dropped in at the Gantry for an uphill drift dive to South Boulder. Nudibranchs, Orangutan Crabs, juvenile Yellow Boxfish, Painted Crays, Eagle Rays and more Green Turtles were seen.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C-24°C
- Visibility: 35m+
Dive Report by Nathan
22nd January 2023 – Leopard Shark at South Solitary Island
We had a couple days away from the ocean due to the weather conditions, so
it was very nice getting out to blow some bubbles again.
Dive one, the certified divers got in at Manta Arch while the students went
down at Cleaner Station. There was about 8-10 Grey Nurse in the Arch, Black Cod
and Bullrays. The students were welcomed with a turtle near the bottom,
Flutemouth Fish, Blue Spotted Stingrays and a very cute Octopus.
One group of divers got to see a Leopard Shark right at the end of the 2nd dive
which was at Shark Gutters.
Congratulations to Judy who finished her PADI Open Water Course today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C-24°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Nathan
23rd January 2023 – Devlishly Blue Water at Manta Arch
Dive one saw our divers roll in at Buchanan’s Wall, during the dive a pregnant male Dunkers Pipehorse, Ornate Ghostpipefish, Eastern Blue Devilfish, Nudibranchs and a Cownose Ray were amongst the highlights.
Dive two saw our divers drop in at Manta Arch for a swim through the Gap to the Gantry 10 Grey Nurse were seen in Manta Arch, and during the swim Green Turtles, a massive Spotted Eagleray, Egg Cowries and more Nudibranchs were seen.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C-24°C
- Visibility: 10m-20m
Dive Report by Nathan
24th January 2023 – Ghost Pipefish make South Solitary Island home.
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall, there was a little surge but still lots to see. We had Nudibranchs, baby Painted Cray, Ornate Ghostpipefish, Cuttlefish, Hawksbill Turtles and schools of fish
Dive two had the students in at The Gantry and the certified students done a drift from Cleaner to the Gantry – Nudibranchs, Blue Spotted Rays, Spotted Eagle Rays, Green Turtles, Blue Groupers, and a large number of Wobbegongs along boulder wall.
Nathan found this awesome little Peacock Mantis Shrimp at North Boulder.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C-24°C
- Visibility: 15-25m
Dive Report by Nathan
25th January 2023 – Hump Day Diving
Mega Wild was full again with keen divers to explore South Solitary Island.
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall, we had a large number of Nudibranchs down the wall and two Green Sea Turtles having a nap. The Open Water Students were lucky enough to see a Giant Sting-Ray resting on the sandy patch north of the mooring.
Dive two was a drift from the northern end down to The Gantry. The visibility was a little better up there and we had 4-6 Bullrays along boulder wall, Black Cod, Turtles, Huge schools of fish and a single Grey Nurse Shark near North Boulder.
Congratulations to Bailey, Brooke, Mikayla, Chelsie, Verner and Scott who all finished their PADI Open Water Course today.
Visibility 10-15m
Temp 20-24C
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C-24°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
26th january 2023 – Leopards and mantas at the solitaries!
Today we took out 2 Wild to North Solitary Island, and Mega Wild to South Solitary Island.
For our North Solitary trip the first and shorter second dive were at Anenome Bay. Here the divers were pleasantly surprised to drop into 20+ leopard sharks crusing about. On top of this they saw heaps of eagle rays ,manta rays, a QLD groper, and bull rays. There was also turtles, and coral banded shrimp.
For the 3rd dive we headed to North West Solitary, where the divers had an amazing experience with a Manta Ray! It came through twice and gave our divers a great day!
At South Solitary, our divers saw a leopard sharp who was a bit far from his friends at North! They also spotted a large Male Green Sea Turtle who surfaced and took a breath to say hi to our coxswain. Plenty of schooling fish and Nudibranches were also spotted on this dive, along with a comb-toothed pipefish
If you would like to check out the video of the Manta, one of our divers Alick caught footage of it cruising nearby, and Alick couldnt get out of the way in time so the Manta cruised overhead. There’s also a video Laura took of the Manta just cruising around. You can check those out on our instagram or facebook. Today’s photo is of Laura’s pic of the Manta!
Conditions Report
North Solitary:
- 30m visibility
- Temperature: 25°C.
North West Solitary:
- Visibility: 15m-20m
- Temperature: 25°C
South Solitary:
- Visibility: 15m-20m.
- Temperature: 24°C
Dive Report by Tara
27th January 2023-Leopard Sharks at South Solitary
With a bumpy trip out today, the choice for Dive 1 was again Buchanan’s Wall to get shelter from the wind. Dive 2 was then up to the northern end for a drift dive to the Gantry.
Lots of fish-life around Boulder Wall and a highlight for some of the divers was a Leopard Shark. Also along the way were Turtles and more Turtles and Eagle Rays. Conditions improved through the day and was enjoyed by all on-board.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Nathan
28th January 2023 – Trio of Leopard Sharks
We had exceptional conditions today at South Solitary Island. Our dive groups split up around the island for the first dive, with divers at the Gantry, Buchanan’s Wall and Manta Arch.
Seven Grey Nurse Sharks were seen in the Arch, and an old man Leopard Shark was found in the Back Gutter, several turtles were seen in and around the Gap, along with Nudibranchs, Abbotts Morays and Banded Coral Shrimp.
Dive two, most of our divers dropped in at Cleaner Station for a drift to the Gantry, along the way a Spotted Eagle Ray, Leopard Sharks, Painted Crays, Black Cod, a pair of Blue Angelfish and Marbled Rays were seen.
Photo taken today by Instructor Lindsay
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C-24°C
- Visibility: 15m-25m
Dive Report by Nathan
29th January 2023 – Sea Slug Sunday!
Travelling in style, we shot out to South Solitary Island onboard Mega Wild for two very awesome dives this morning.
Sheltering from the northerly breeze, we jumped in at Buchanan’s Wall on dive one. Lot’s of nudi’s, black cod, lionfish, ghost pipefish and anemone fish were spotted on this dive.
Slipping in at the Gantry on dive 2, our divers got up close with lots of turtles, bull rays, morays, and many more nudi’s on this dive!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
