Dive Reports – July 2016
Take a look at our dive reports from July 2016! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in July 2016.
Dive Reports July 2016 – Table of Contents:
3RD JULY 2016 – GREY NURSE SHARKS COVER THE BOTTOM AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
Today’s dives at South Solitary Island were amazing, there was plenty to see on both dives and the visibility was about 15-20m, making up for the cooler 19C water temp.
Dive one had a carpet of Grey Nurse Sharks covering the bottom as everyone descended which looked awesome!! Mike and Deb counted around 30 of them.
Dive two was a casual swim from Shark Gutters down to South Boulder, there was large schools of Tarwhine, Travelly, a couple big Black Cod and a Giant Cuttlefish on the Boulder Wall.
Today’s photo is of Deb, swimming with a Grey Nurse Shark by Manta Arch.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
4TH JULY 2016 – GAGGLE OF GREY NURSE CALL SOUTH SOLITARY HOME!
Excited by the blue water, our divers jumped in at Manta Arch for the first dive of the day. Descending down the mooring we could see the Grey Nurse in large numbers patrolling the bottom. Dive two was a leisurely swim from the Cleaner Station to South Boulder Wall. More Grey Nurse, some big Black Cod, Giant Cuttle Fish, Lionfish and a few Green Sea Turtles in the shallows.
Awesome to be back out diving!!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
15TH JULY 2016 – WINTER DIVING AT IT’S BEST!
Enjoying the big boat comfort of “Wild Fin”, we shot out to South Solitary Island for two amazing dives. First up was Manta Arch. Descended down the mooring, our divers could see 6 or so Grey Nurse schooling on the bottom. Black Cod, schools of Trevally and our good friend Barney the Loggerhead were all out on today’s first dive.
Round two was at Sharks Gutters. Plenty of big fish action on this dive! Schooling Blue Stripe Snapper, Black Spot Goat Fish, Lionfish, Black Cod and more Grey Nurse were all spotted by our divers!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C-19°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Andy
17TH JULY 2016 – GIANT CUTTLEFISH AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
We were finally back out getting amongst the Grey Nurse Sharks at South Solitary Island!
Dive one had the first time divers get in at Cleaner Station and the Advanced divers go a little deeper at Manta Arch, both sites had loads to see with good numbers of Grey Nurse Sharks in Cleaner Cave and under the Arch and a few Eagle Rays.
Dive two was at Shark Gutters, everyone had plenty of time to look around the top end of the island, although the water temp was a little cool everybody seen lots including, Wobbygongs, Black Cod, Emperor Anglefish, and a very big Giant Cuttle Fish at the start of Boulder wall.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 12m
Dive Report by Lindsay
18TH JULY 2016 – GREY NURSE SHARKS LOVING THE WINTER WATERS
Yet another superb day out at South Solitary Island today with a about 20 Grey Nurse Sharks sighted at Manta Arch.
The certified divers spent their entire dive getting up close with these docile animals while the Open Water students were at Cleaner Station doing exactly the same because there were 5 Grey Nurse sharks in only 8 metres of water!!
Dive two was a casual swim from Cleaner Station down to South Boulder where 2 Giant Cuttle Fish were seen, a monster Black Cod, Lionfish, a Loggerhead Turtle, Eagle Rays and so much more.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 15m-18m
Dive Report by Lindsay
21ST JULY 2016-GREY NURSE, CUTTLEFISH AND TURTLES AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
Other than a bit of rain and overcast conditions, the day could not have been better. Dive 1 was at Manta Arch with the bottom clearly visible from the surface and a lovely blue. It didn’t let us down with Grey Nurse sharks everywhere. A total of 30 in the whole area was the estimate with them swimming with our divers peacefully.
Dive 2 was at Shark Gutters and between Cleaner Station with another 12 Grey Nurses and 3 big Lionfish, to Shark Gutters and Boulder Wall with Barney the Loggerhead Turtle cruising around looking for his favourite food the Giant Cuttlefish. A Great dive had by all.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 20m and blue!
Dive Report by Mike
23RD JULY 2016 – BLUE, CLEAR WATER OUT AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
With a beautiful 26C day ahead we made our way out to South Solitary Island for a double dive, we had Open Water students and a few certified divers packed on Wildfin ready to rock and roll.
Dive one was at Buchanans Wall as this was the more sheltered spot from the northerly wind as dive two was a mix with the students doing a one way swim from Buchanans Wall to The Gantry and the certified divers catching the current from Shark Gutters down to The Gantry. Both dives had plenty to see including Wobbygongs, Grey Nurse Sharks, Blue Tangs (Dory), Lionfish, Green Sea Turtles and Lisa’s group seen 8 different Eagle Rays along Boulder Wall!!
Had the pleasure to see 3 Humpback Whales during the surface interval as well.
Conditions Report:
- Surface Conditions: Very Choppy
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 18m
Dive Report by Lindsay
24TH JULY 2016 – OPEN WATER DIVERS HAVE LAST DIVE WITH GREY NURSE SHARKS
Today we had Grey Nurse Sharks everywhere up the top end of the island, as the certified divers and the Advanced Open Water students dropped in at Manta Arch for dive one the Open Water Students descended down Cleaner Station to about 4-6 Grey Nurse Sharks!!
Dive two was again up the top end where is was nice and sheltered from the southerly breeze, our divers seen Grey Nurse Sharks, Giant Cuttle Fish, Numbrays, Lionfish, Wobbygongs roaming the bottom and Barney the Loggerhead Turtle cruising in the current.
Congratulations to Skye, Taylah, Dean, David, Jacob and Daan they are all certified Open Water divers as of today!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 15m-18m
Dive Report by Lindsay
30TH JULY 2016 – SINGING WHALES AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
An unexpected southerly had blown up in the morning so the northern end of South Solitary Island was the best spot for both dives today.
There was a good number of Grey Nurse Sharks at Manta Arch and about three at Cleaner Station along with a couple of Eagle Rays and a huge Wobbygong near the mooring.
Dive two was at Cleaner Station where our divers saw three Lionfish in Cleaner Cave that were surrounded by Bulleyes, Nudibranchs, a friendly Blue Groper and this chilled out Black Cod with Sam Finton in the background.
Our divers were lucky enough to hear the amazing sounds of a singing Humpback Whale on dive two it sounded very close but no one had any sightings.
Congratulations to Georgia, Jake and Jacob who all completed their PADI Open Water Diver Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 12m
Dive Report by Lindsay
