Dive Reports – July 2020
Take a look at our dive reports from July 2020! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in July 2020.
Dive Reports July 2020 – Table of Contents:
1ST JULY 2020 – GREAT DIVING TO START JULY
Today, on July 1st 2020, we took 2 Wild out to South Solitary Island for our morning Double Dive Trip!
Our first dive was at Manta Arch for the experienced divers, where we saw many Grey Nurse Sharks in the arch and surrounding gutters, schools of Silver trevally where clouding the arch and a couple of turtles where also seen. Our new students where at Cleaner Station where they saw some Grey nurse on their first dive as well as turtles and Big Black Cod.
Our second dive was from Shark Gutters to South Boulder. On this dive we spotted heaps of Eagle Rays crusing slowly around. The wall always varies in fishlife with current, but today it was loaded. Bulls eyes and Tarwhine, laced with Goatfish, Red Morwong and the odd Big Black Cod. To top off a great dive was Turtles and Grey Nurs
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Tara
2nd July 2020 – South and Split Dives!
For today’s dive we headed out to the Solitary Islands.
Our first site was Manta Arch, where our divers dropped in on huge amounts of schooling fish, and plenty of Grey Nurses through the Arch. The divers also spotted a cute little yellow boxfish (as pictured today!), Wobbegongs, some Moray Eels hanging about and some lionfish, along with a Big Bull Ray! There were also baby Grey Nurse’s in the “back gutter”.
For the second dive, t0 suit the weather change, we headed in to split solitary island for protection from the wind. Here our divers spotted a Crested Horn Shark, Eagle Rays, some cuttlefish, and Wobbegongs. We also spotted some bullseyes, tarwhine, and a turtle!
Congratulations to Amy and Alex for completing their PADI Openwater Diver Course!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Tara
5th July 2020 – Sharks Everyway At South Soliary Island
After a couple of days out of the water due to the weather, 2 Wild headed out to the South Sol for this mornings dive. Shark Gutters was the pick for dive one.
At least a dozen Sharks were spotted around the Cave and the Gutters, Also sighted were Eagle Rays, Wobbegong Sharks, Moray eels, and Black Cod.
After morning tea all divers dropped in on Cleaner Station making there way round to south Boulder. Turtles, Bull Rays, schooling Tarwhine, Bulleyes,
Octopus, and more Grey Nurse Sharks were seen.
To finish off a great morning heaps of Humpback Whales were seen on the way home.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Tara
9th July 2020 – Beautiful 30m Visibility blue South Sol!!
Today our divers headed out to South Solitary Islands for a double dive!
For the first dive, our certified divers dropped into Manta Arch and drifted to Cleaner Station. Here they spotted 50+ Grey Nurse Sharks in blue, blue waters of over 30m visibility – wowee!
On our second dive we took Cleaner Station to South Boulder. On this dive we saw another half a dozen Grey Nurses, Some Black Cod, and schooling fish. We also saw our resident Loggerhead turtle Barney – today’s picture is by DM Cassie of Barney!
We unfortunately also saw a Black Cod which was floating upside down due to an bubble in it’s air-sac, caused by being caught by a fisherman. This is sad to see as the Black Cod may not survive this, and they are a protected animals in a Sanctuary Zone.
Despite this, It was a spectacular day out at South Solitary.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 30m
Dive Report by Tara
10th July 2020 – Continued amazing condtions!
Another beautiful day at South Solitary Island!
For our first dive we dropped our divers in at Manta Arch, where we were greeted with amazing visiblity once again! It was around 25m, enabling us to see all the way through the arch when dropping down the mooring line. Here there were large amounts of Grey Nurses (At least 30+) , Black Cod, and schools of big fish. We didn’t spot much in the way of small things as we were too busy looking at the big stuff!
For the second dive we did Cleaner Station to The Gantry. This dive featured some turtles, More Grey Nurses, Eagle Rays, schooling tarwhine and a huge blue grouper in Cleaner Station Cave.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 25m
Dive Report by Tara
11th July 2020 – Sharky Saturday
Today on the 11th of July we took out 2 Wild full of divers to South Solitary for a double dive.
For the first dive we descended into Manta Arch, greeting 40+ Grey Nurses once getting to the arch. There were also eagle rays, eels and lionfish, and 2 bullrays!
For the 2nd dive we did Cleaner/South Boulder + Gantry. There were plenty of black cod, and plenty of Grey Nurse’s here too – in case you didn’t see enough on the first dive! There was even a damsel fish carrying a starfish in it’s mouth towards our divers, a bit of a funny sight to see.
There was a cold patch on the first dive, where the temperature dropped right down to 16 degrees, and the visibility dropped down to 12m, hence the wide variation on our conditons report!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 16°C-20°C
- Visibility: 12m-30m
Dive Report by Tara
12th July 2020 – Easy like Sunday Diving!
For Sundays diving we headed out to South Solitary Island in 2 Wild.
For our first dive we headed down into Cleaner Station to head to South Boulder . Here we spotted 25+ Grey Nurses, Bull Rays, and turtles amongst schooling fish. There was an octopus, and so many Bullseyes had formed their own “wall” across boulder wall. There was also a smaller black cod that had a hook and line in it’s mouth, which was sad to see.
For our second dive at Manta Arch, there was around 20 Grey Nurses. We found two Bull Rays on the ledge under the arch, some more turtles and a loggerhead that was not our resident loggerhead barney. There were some lionfish. There were plenty more schooling fish here too!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 25m
Dive Report by Tara
13th July 2020 – Monday Funday!
Today on the 13th of July, we took 2 Wild out to South Solitary for our double dive, and it was a lovely trip!
On Dive 1 we headed down into Manta Arch to Cleaner Station. Here there were heaps of sharks, 25+ Grey Nurses and plenty of Wobbegongs. There were also heaps of Eagle Rays, some Moray Eels, and Bull Rays on the first dive – along with 2 turtles.
On our second dive we headed into Cleaner Station and Shark Gutters. Here there were heaps of Nudibranches and a beautiful Spanish Dancer! There was a big Mottled Bull Ray, some clownfish, and more turtles!
An update on our Black Cod with the bubble in his belly – he’s looking much better! His air bubble has reduced and he even flipped right-way-up on today’s dive. We have our fingers crossed for him.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 20m-25m
Dive Report by Tara
19th July 2020 – Back in the Water!
After a week of windy weather and high seas, the ocean cleared up for our divers and we headed out today to South Solitary Island.
For our first dive, we headed down into Cleaner Station. For this dive we saw a little grey nurse, at about 1m length, and heaps of Wobbegongs. There was an orangutang crab, an octopus, and schooling fish including ReindeerWrasse, Moorish Idols, and Silver Trevalley.
On our second dive we dropped into Cleaner Station/South Boulder. Here we “spotted” 2 giant Spotted Eagle Rays, along with more Wobbegongs swimming along. There were plenty of Nudibranches, more schooling fish off of boulder wall including red Bigeye, and Tarwhine. We also spotted 10 Blue Groupers!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: A very blue 12m!
Dive Report by Tara
23rd July 2020 – Whale Songs and Wobbegongs
Today, on the 23rd of July 2020, we took Wild Fin out to South Solitary Island for our double dive.
For our first dive we went to Manta Arch. On this dive we saw large amounts of Grey Nurse Sharks, a 1m QLD grouper. There was wobbegongs, a little cuttlefish, 3 barbed porcupines and some moray eels and mantis shrimp.
On the second dive, from Cleaner Station to South Boulder, we were surrounded by schools of bullseyes! There were lionfish, blue lipped anenomies and a big eagle ray, along with a Green Sea Turtle. We were lucky enough to hear some whales singing, which added a nice soundtrack to the dive!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Tara
25th July 2020 – Two Island Dive – South Solitary and Groper Island
Our boat “2 Wild” left the marina this morning with a boat load of excited divers, (not full, but with max Covid 19 numbers). It was decided dive one would be at the top end of South Solitary Island finding protection from the southerly wind.
Shark Gutters was chosen for the first dive, at least a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks were spotted, Black Cod, Nudibranchs, a Spanish Dancer, Moray Eels, and Barney our local Loggerhead Turtle.
Surface conditions worsened so “2 Wild” made its way to Groper Island for morning tea, after the surface interval all divers descended down the mooring line and were greeted with schools of Tarwhine, Bull eyes and Goatfish. Also spotted were Wobbegong Sharks, Blue Grouper, and a large Octopus.
Two good dives were had, even though the weather above was not so kind to us and the poor little skipper!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19.5°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Mike
