Dive Reports – June & July 2018
Take a look at our dive reports from June & July 2018! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in June & July 2018.
Dive Reports June & July 2018 – Table of Contents:
9th June 2018 – Giant Cuttlefish Out In Numbers
We have had a very long break from diving and everyone was pleased to blow some bubbles again out at South Solitary Island.
Both dives today had plenty to see including Five Giant cuttlefish, Grey Nurse Sharks, a rare Handfish spotted by Neil Vaughan, Nudibranchs, Batfish, and Green Sea Turtles.
Congratulations to Natasha who become a PADI Open Water Diver today!!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 20m-25m
Dive Report by Lindsay
12th June 2018 – Blue Water At South Solitary
It was a pleasant trip out to South Solitary this morning, our divers even spotted a pod of Humpback Whales on the way. Plenty to see underwater too. Manta arch didn’t disappoint, one group of divers spotted at least fifteen Grey Nurse Sharks. Dive two was a swim from Cleaner Station to South Boulder. Our student divers swam with a Grey Nurse Shark, four Giant Cuttlefish, Bat Fish and a Loggerhead Turtle.
Congratulations to James on completing his Open Water Dive Coarse, and also Hailey Jack, Emma on completing The Scuba Diver Coarse.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Andy
23rd June 2018 – “Fantastic Dive” 70+ Grey Nurse Sharks at Manta Arch
Conditions at South Solitary Island were fantastic for a winters day! Clear water and an amazing amount of sharks at Manta Arch along with 20 odd sharks at Cleaner Station where the divers finished their first dive.
Dive two did not disappoint as well with more sharks all along the Northern side of South Solitary Island, but the highlight this dive was seeing two Giant Cuttlefish conducting a mating dance displaying amazing pulses of colours through their body.
The picture today is from our PADI Advanced student, Heidi, with Bryce just being swooped by a Grey Nurse.
Congrats today to Gav in completing his PADI Advanced Course.
Visibility. 25 metres Temp. 19 to 20c
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-20°C
- Visibility: 25m
Dive Report by Mike
24th June 2018 – Great Vis at South Solitary
After a nice boat ride out to South Solitary watching Whales breach, our first dive today was Manta Arch. Not as many Grey Nurse Sharks as yesterday, but still over 20 were spotted. After a pleasant surface interval it was decided dive two would be a drift dive from Shark Gutters to South Boulder.
The Boulder Wall didn’t disappoint either as there was schools of fish everywhere. One group even spotting a school of Eagle Rays. The highlight on Dive two was the two Cuttlefish interacting with each other. Another great day out at South Solitary Island.
Congratulations to Jamie on completing his Open Water Course, and Heidi on completing her Advanced Open Water Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 25m
Dive Report by Andy
26th June 2018 – Sharks, Rays and So much more!!!
After a bumpy ride out to South Solitary Island, divers were keen to get into the water as surface conditions weren’t the best. The visibility was at least 20 meters, so Shark Gutters was decided for the first dive. What a dive! Our Open Water Students saw Grey Nurse Sharks, Eagle Rays and Turtles on there very first ocean dive.
Protected from the southerly wind we jumped in at the Cleaner Station for dive two. This dive didn’t disappoint either. One group of divers went down the Boulder Wall and saw the Giant Cuttlefish plus lots of Schooling Fish, Black Cod, Turtles, Eagle rays and at least a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks at Cleaner Station.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
28th June 2018 – Fantastic Vis At South Solitary
After a nice boat ride out to South Solitary Island it was decided dive one would be at Shark Gutters. Vis was at least 30 meters, heaps of fish life and Sharks everywhere! Our Divers even spotted a big Green Turtle who was having a nap in the Cleaner Station Cave.
After a pleasant surface interval we jumped in at Shark Gutters and drifted around to South Boulder. 30 Grey Nurse Sharks were spotted around the sanctuary marker! Lots of schooling fish, Turtles, Black Cod and a Giant Cuttlefish were all spotted on the Boulder Wall. Conditions for Saturday look great, only a few spots left!
Congratulations to Deb on finishing her Advanced Open Water Diver Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 30m
Dive Report by Andy
30th June 2018 – Blue water surrounds South Solitary Island
Today our divers enjoyed 25m plus visibility as the blue water continues to flow around South Solitary Island. The Grey Nurse are also about in great numbers too! Twenty plus Sharks were spotted around the arch and another dozen or so were seen congregating at the northern end.
The mild current made for a nice drift on dive two. More Grey Nurse, Eagle Rays, Octopus, Trevally, Black Cod, Lionfish and a Loggerhead Turtle were just some of the highlights.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 25m
Dive Report by Andy
5th July -Blue Water at South Solitary Island
Today, after a pleasant boat ride out to South Solitary Island, a small group of excited divers were greeted with clear blue water. Manta Arch was the pick for dive one, at least twenty five Grey Nurse Sharks were spotted around the arch plus lots of schooling fish.
Today’s surface conditions weren’t the best so after a short surface interval our divers went from Shark Gutters to the South Boulder for dive two. Shark Gutters lacked grey nurses, but more fish life was seen on Boulder Wall including our current residents, the Giant Cuttlefish . Schools of Bull-eyes, heaps of Black Cod, some Turtles, and a couple of Lionfish including a huge one, were spotted on the wall.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Andy
7th July 2018 – Grey Nurse Sharks Galore at South Solitary Island
We had an awesome day today at South Solitary Island with loads of Grey Nurse Sharks at both dive sites.
While dive one at Manta Arch had plenty of Grey Nurse Sharks and a monster Giant Cuttle Fish!! Dive two had schools of Trevally, Kingfish, Wobbegong’s on the move, Grey Nurse Sharks around the Sanctuary marker on the northern end of the island, Lionfish, Nudibranchs and plenty of Green Sea Turtles on Boulder Wall.
Congratulations to Laura and Kirsten who completed their PADI Open Water Cert and congratulations to Heidi who finished her PADI Advanced Open Water course today also.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C – 20°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
11th July 2018 – Leaf Fish becoming local at South Solitary Island
We had another great day at South Solitary Island today with Dive one at Manta Arch and dive two was from Cleaner Station down to South Boulder.
These dives had plenty to see including Eagle Rays, Giant Cuttlefish on Boulder Wall, 15 Grey Nurse Sharks at Manta Arch, Loggerhead Turtles, Nudibranchs and Bubble Shells, Lionfish and much more.
There has also been a local Leaf Fish at Manta Arch which is quite a rare find at South Solitary Island.
Congratulations to Miranda and Matthew who become PADI Open Water Divers today!!!
Photo was not taken today but supplied by Craig Lewis
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-20°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
12th July 2018 – Great Vis and Plenty to See!
Today’s conditions were epic! Crystal clear water and calm seas made for great diving at South Solitary Island. Fifty or more Grey Nurse Sharks could be seen around Manta Arch and the northern end! Loggerhead Turtles, Giant Cuttlefish, Eagle Rays, Spanish Dancers, Octopus, lots of Black Cod, schooling Trevally and so much more!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 25m-30m
Dive Report by Andy
14th July 2018 – Fur Seal Swims With Divers
We had a great couple of dives today at South Solitary Island!!!
Dive one had everyone amazed as they got to the bottom of the mooring line to have a Fur Seal swim with us for about 2-3 mins!!!
We also had a school of Eagle rays, swimming Wobbegong Sharks, Lionfish, Green Sea and Hawksbill Turtles, four Giant Cuttlefish on Boulder Wall and beautiful singing Humpback Whales at the end of Dive two.
Photo not taken today
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C-20°C
- Visibility: 20m-25m
Dive Report by Lindsay
21st July 2018 – Grey Nurse Sharks Crowd Manta Arch
It was great being out at South Solitary Island again getting amoungest our amazing marine life!!
Dive one was at Manta Arch where we had plenty of Grey Nurse Shark action with roughly 25 Sharks cruzing in the depths and a chilled out Loggerhead Turtle finding a place to nap.
Dive two we decided to head in to Split Solitary Island for a look and found the visibility was better in close. Lots to see including Nudibranchs, Lionfish, turtles and a Crested Horn Shark under some beautiful Plate Coral.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C-19°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
23rd July 2018 – South Solitary Island at its Best
With divers geared up and 2Wild waiting at the wharf for some keen customers we ventured out to South Solitary Island for some spectacular dives!!
Dive one had the certified divers and Advanced Open Water Students get in at Manta Arch and end at Cleaner Station where the Discover Scuba Divers done their first dives in shallower water, lots of Grey Nurse Sharks spotted at both locations along with some Lionfish, Blue Gropers and Black Cod near the mooring.
Dive two was a drift from Cleaner Station down to South Boulder the divers saw Giant Cuttlefish, Eagle Rays, Bull Rays and schools of Tarwhine and Travelly along boulder Wall along with some chilled out Turtles around Shark Gutters.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C – 20°C
- Visibility: 12m-15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
27th July 2018 – Sharks Galore At South Solitary Island
After a nice ride out to South Solitary it was decided dive one would be at Shark Gutters. The divers weren’t disappointed, lots of schooling fish and plenty of Grey nurse Sharks circling around, a great first dive for the Open Water Students getting amongst the Sharks.
After a surface interval at the Gantry dive two was a drift dive from Shark gutters to the Gantry, what a dive Loggerhead Turtles, Eagle Rays. Grey Nurse Sharks, Giant Cuttlefish, and lots of schooling fish.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Andy
29th July 2018 – Two Island Sunday
After a choppy ride out, our divers dropped in at Manta Arch. They spotted at least twenty Grey Nurse Sharks, along with Bull Rays moving around and our local Loggerhead turtle.
It was decided dive two would be at Split Solitary Island to get out of the North westerly wind. All divers dropped in at Turtle Cove, a couple of juvenile Grey Nurse Sharks were spotted also a Crested Horn Shark, Wobbegong Sharks, Crayfish and schooling Bull eyes.
Vis 10/15 metres at South Solitary Island and a little better at Split Solitary.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 10-15m
Dive Report by Andy
30th July 2018 – Scuba Divers Swim with Gentle Giants Underwater
Today we had one of those encounters that no one believes, our divers were very lucky to have two juvenile Humpback Whales glide over top of them at 25m deep!!
As the Open Water Students were last to get in they too swam on the surface with them for about 1-2mins and came to within 15 metres of these gentle giants.
Underwater after all the hype there was still plenty to see including Grey Nurse Sharks, Six Giant Cuttlefish, Bullrays, Travelly, Lionfish, Nudibranchs, Turtles and lots more.
Congratulations to Tabitha and Jared who become PADI Open Water Divers today!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C-19°C
- Visibility: 15m-18m
Dive Report by Lindsay
31st July 2018 – Sharks are back at Manta Arch
The trip to South Solitary was smooth and surface and diving conditions were great. The Advanced Divers chose Manta Arch to Cleaner Station and were surprised that a large number of Grey Nurse Sharks had returned to deeper water at Manta Arch. Whilst there was still a large number of Grey Nurse at Shark Gutters and Boulder wall on dive two, other highlights were the Giant Cuttlefish in a mating dance at Boulder Wall and schools of fishlife along the way.
Congratulations to Caila, completing her PADI Open Water Course and Ethan completing his PADI Advanced Open Water Course (finally!)
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Mike
