Dive Reports – July 2022
Take a look at our dive reports from July 2022! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in July 2022.
Dive Reports July 2022 – Table of Contents:
2nd July 2022 – Dreary Skies and Happy Dives
Despite the rain 2Wild geared up and headed for South Solitary for some diving with a few humpback whales breaching and pec slapping along the way just to say hello. The first dive was at the beautiful Manta Arch. Everyone was treated to lots of grey nurse sharks and crystal clear water. For dive two everyone jumped in at Shark Gutters and highlights included orangutan crabs, mantis shrimp, and lots of wobbegongs. Everyone coud hear the whale song during their dive and just before departing a humpback was breaching only 200 meters away. Despite the grey and wet weather the diving was incredible.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Stuart
9th July 2022 – Whale Song and Turtles!
2 Wild steamed out full of divers this morning and we made our way to South Solitary Island’s northern end to hide from the wind. Dive one was at Cleaner Station and highlights included grey nurse sharks, green turtles, and nudibranchs. Two more experienced divers started their dive at Manta Arch and saw about 20 grey nurse sharks in the back gutter. After some warm soup and coffee everyone jumped back in for a drift to South Boulder. The sound of humpback whale song was loud as a pair of whales passed close by, though no one caught a glimpse of them underwater, and highlights included lionfish, eagle rays, and more green sea turtles. Visibility was a bit green looking from the surface but once descending a bit it cleared up significantly.
Congratulations to Lilli and Stella for jumping in for their first ever dives today on a Discover Scuba Dive experience!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 10m
Dive Report by Andy
10th July 2022 – Stunning South Solitary
There was no better way to spend the day than underwater at South Solitary Island! Exploring Manta Arch and the Cleaner Station on dive one, our divers got up close and personal with more than 20 grey nurse sharks, multiple turtles, moray eels and a trillion silver sweep! After soaking up some sunshine during the surface interval we hopped in at Shark Gutters for dive two. More great shark action, black cod, wobbegongs, lionfish and Lenny the leopard blenny made up just some of the highlights!
Conditions are looking great for Tuesday so give us a call to book on for a dive!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 5m-8m
Dive Report by Lindsay
12th July 2022 – Open Water Students Galore!
This morning 2Wild cruised out to South Solitary Island loaded with Open Water students. Everyone jumped in at Shark Gutters for dive one and were greeted by moray eels, schooling tarwhine, wobbegongs, and grey nurse sharks. For dive two all the students got to experience a drift dive from Shark Gutters to South Boulder. Highlights included the sound of humpback whale song, green turtles, and rock cod.
Congratulations to Libby, Erin, Ruby, and Claire for completing their PADI Open Water course today!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 5m-8m
Dive Report by Maryanne
16th July 2022 – Return of the Good Vis and Heaps of Wildlife!
2Wild beat the wind out to South Solitary this morning where our divers were greeted with blue water. Our more advanced group jumped in at Manta Arch for a drift to Cleaner Station and the students jumped in for training at Cleaner Station. As the divers were returning to the boat the wind picked up a bit so we spent the surface interval hiding behind the lighthouse on the southern end of the island. As we made our way back to the top end for dive two, a pod of three humpback whales followed us all the way. Our divers explored Shark Gutters for dive two. Highlights from the day included grey nurse sharks, nudibranchs, black cod, eagle rays, moray eels, juvenile semi circular angelfish, and anemone fish.
Congratulations to Mae, Kyah, Sean, Alyssa, and Alix for completing their PADI Open Water course today!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 12m-15m
Dive Report by Maryanne
17th July 2022 -Through the Gap to a Bale of Turtles
Students and Certified divers had some amazing experiences underwater today.Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall, we had schools of Bulleyes, a few big Black Cod and a cute little Yellow Box Fish under the ledge near the mooring.
Dive two, half the group got in at Manta Arch and made their way through the gap to finish at The Gantry. This was an epic dive as we had Grey Nurse Sharks under the Arch and in the Back Gutter, 10-12 Turtles near the shallow end of The Gap and some beautiful Nudibranchs near The Gantry.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-20°C
- Visibility: 10m-18m
Dive Report by Lindsay
18th July 2022 – Beautiful South Solitary Did Not Disappoint
A small team of keen divers jumped on 2Wild this morning and we made our way to South Solitary for some epic diving. Dive one was at Buchannon’s Wall where some hefty wobbegongs were found chilling on the bottom along with old wives and lots of anemonefish. To hide from the wind we spent the surface interval enjoying the view of the lighthouse from the southern end of the island where we took advantage of the calm waters to gear up in time to jump back in. For dive two everyone began at Manta Arch and did a drift through the gap all the way to the Gantry. This dive ticked all the boxes with grey nurse sharks, heaps of turtles, black cod, and egg cowries.
Big congratulations to Minnie’s students Jess and Steven on completing their PADI Open Water course today. Welcome to the underwater world!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Maryanne
31st July 2022 – Blue water at the Solitaries!
After a week out of the water due to adverse weather, we were all excited to get back out diving this morning. Arriving at South Solitary Island we were greeted with some great visibility! Plenty of big fish action was spotted across both of today’s dives. Black cod, grey nurse sharks, turtles, eagle rays plus lots of schooling fish life made up just some of the highlights.
Vis 20-25m, temp 19c.
Congratulations to Josh and Phalayna on completing your PADI Open Water Course and Eve and Liam on completing your PADI Advanced Open Water Course today!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature:
- Visibility:
Dive Report by Andy
