Dive Reports – June 2019
Take a look at our dive reports from June 2019! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in June 2019.
Dive Reports June 2019 – Table of Contents:
9th June 2019 – Finally great conditions at South Solitary Island.
After a long time since our last dive, Conditions settled nicely today to get out to South Solitary Island. First Dive was at Cleaner Station, with highlights of three Grey Nurse Sharks sighted, a big Loggerhead Turtle and Eagle Rays.
Dive two was along Boulder Wall to the Gantry, with loads of fish, as well as an Octopus and even a Blue Ring Octopus was spotted. Visibility was around 15 mtrs and looked even better near the Gantry. Great considering the swell we had earlier in the week.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Mike
10th June 2019 – Huge Loggerhead Turtle Welcomes Divers
Today’s dives at South Solitary Island were beautiful with nice clear water and a huge abundance of marine life.
Dive one we had the certified divers get in at Manta Arch to make their way through the gap to meet the students around to The Gantry. Lots of Grey Nurse Sharks at Manta Arch, Black Cod, King Fish and a huge Loggerhead Turtle in the gap which got up close and personal with everyone.
Dive Two was a drift from Shark Gutters down to The Gantry, everyone felt like they were pushing their way through the abundance of marine life along Boulder Wall. Nudibranchs, Lionfish, Wobbegongs, Bullrays and Mantis Shrimp we some of the other life spotted.
Congratulations to Sunny Perrot who finished his Open Water Course today
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 18m-20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
12th June 2019 – Giant Cuttlefish Spotted At Buchanan’s Wall
We had a quick trip out to South Solitary Island, all divers dropped in at Buchanan’s Wall and it didn’t disappoint, three Eagle rays were spotted
a lonely Green Turtle, Black Cod, Bull eyes and to finish off a great dive everyone had the pleasure to see a Giant Cuttlefish. After a pleasant surface interval we ventured up to the Northern end of the Island, all divers dropped in at Shark Gutters and made their way to the Gantry, two Grey Nurse Sharks were spotted, Schooling Tarwhine, Blue Fusiliers, Eagle-rays and a curious Hawksbill Turtle swam the last part of the dive with the divers to the mooring line.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
14th June 2019 – Grey Nurse Sharks excite first time divers
We had a large group of divers from Coffs Harbour Senior College Marine Studies class on the boat today doing their first dives out from the Open Water Course, everyone had a blast and thoroughly enjoyed doing dives and not doing skills!!!
Dive one was at Cleaner Station and Manta Arch as we had some other students doing their Deep dives of the Advanced Open Water course too.
Dive two was a drift from Cleaner Station down to South Boulder, both dives had so much to see including Turtles, Wobbegongs, Slipper Lobsters, Moray Eels, two huge Spanish Dancers, Black Cod and lots of Grey Nurse Sharks in the shallows that all the students were excited about getting so close to them.
Congratulations to Maddie who finished her Open Water Diver course and Mirja who completed the final dive of her Advanced Open Water Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 10m-12m
Dive Report by Lindsay
15th June 2019 – South Solitary Island
Another great morning at South Solitary island, all divers dropped in at Shark Gutters. Heaps to see down there including Grey Nurse Sharks, Black cod, Bullrays and two Eagle rays.
After morning tea it was decided dive two would be drift from Shark Gutters to South Boulder. Lots to see at North Boulder schooling Tarwhine and bull-eyes, along with Turtles and a Mantis Shrimp. The students even heard whales singing underwater.
Congratulations to Nathan on passing his Padi Open Water Course.
Vis 10 Metres
Water temp 21 degrees.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 10m
Dive Report by Lindsay
16th June 2019 – Freedivers mix with Grey Nurse Sharks
We had a chilly southerly wind this morning which made it a lot warmer in the water than out of it.
Dive one had a few divers get in at Manta Arch while the rest and got in at Cleaner Station, the visibility at Manta Arch was down a little to about 10m but around at Cleaner Station we had about 15-18m when the sun was out!!
With cooler waters we are getting a lot of Grey Nurse Sharks in the shallows and the Freedivers got up close with a couple of them when they reached the bottom.
Dive two we stayed up the top end to hide from the southerly, our divers saw a huge Eagle Ray, Cuttlefish, Black Cod, Kingfish and some monster Spanish Dancers in the Gutters.
Congratulations to David, Phoebe and Helen who finished their PADI Freediver Course today.
The next Freediver course will be the 13th and 14th of July!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 10m-18m
- Visibility: 21°C
Dive Report by Lindsay
29th July 2019 – South Solitary Island
Great day out at South Solitary Island today dive one had all divers get in at Buchanan’s Wall,
heaps to see down the wall half a dozen Turtles were spotted, Lionfish, Bull eyes, two Eagle rays, and a lonely Grey Nurse Shark swam by.
After the surface interval we ventured up to the top end of the Island, Shark Gutters to the Gantry was decided for dive two.
Boulder wall was full of marine Life, Black Cod, Turtles, Grey Nurse Sharks, Tarwhine, and a Mako Shark was spotted.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Andy
30th June 2019 – Singing Humpback Whales Underwater
It was the last day for the crew from In Depth Scuba, Canberra and everyone had a blast!!
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall where we had a few Turtles, Black Cod, Blue Tangs, Anemone Fish and three Leaf Fish!!
Once everyone had some warm Soup, tea and coffee in their bellies from the surface interval we got in at Cleaner Station for dive two and made our way down to The Gantry!! The Deeper water at Cleaner station had a few big Grey Nurse Sharks around while Boulder wall had an abundance of life which made the drift around the corner quite pleasant.
Once at The Gantry everyone could hear the migrating Humpback Whales singing their beautiful songs at the safety stop!! Not a bad way to finish a weekend.
Thanks again to In Depth Scuba
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 15m-18m
Dive Report by Lindsay
