Dive Reports – March 2015
Take a look at our dive reports form March 2015! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in March 2015.
Table of Contents
1ST OF MARCH 2015 – FISH SOUP ON BOULDER WALL
Yet another great day out at South Solitary Island!!
Dive one today was at Buchanan’s Wall where our divers seen plenty of Moray eels, Big Blue Groper, Black Cod, Turtles and much more.
Dive two was a ripping drift dive from Sharks Gutters around to The Gantry. Visibility up the top end wasn’t the best but made everyone look hard to see all the tiny little critters at the top end of the island. 5 turtles were spotted by Jack Gardner during the drift, Sting Rays, large Spanish Dancer, Dwarf Lion-fish and this cute little Nudibranch taking refuge in this Sea Sponge.
Conditions Report:
- N breeze 11knots, 1.0m swell
- Temperature: 22-24°C
- Visibility: 10m-12m
Dive Report by Lindsay
7TH MARCH 2015 – SOUTH FOLLOWED BY SPLIT SOLITARY ISLAND
With no more than 4 knots wind this morning it made a pleasant trip out to South Solitary Island!!
Dive one took us to Manta Arch which we have not dived in about 4 weeks. There was about 6 Grey Nurse Sharks in the Arch, Large Black Cod and a beautiful Lion-fish near Cleaner Station cave.
There was a strong current and limited visibility at South Sol so we decided to head in to Split Solitary Island in search of clearer waters and less current. We tied up to Mikes Mooring the visibility was slightly better but with a green colour to it.
Lots and lots of Bulls-eye Fish, Porcupine fish, Nudibranchs everywhere, Wobbygongs, Lion-fish and a tiny little Crayfish hiding in the sponges.
Conditions Report:
- S Breeze 10 knots, 1.7m Swell
- Temperature: 23-24°C
- Visibility: 8m-12m
Dive Report by Lindsay
8TH MARCH 2015 – SO MANY FISH!
Today the visibility was a little down, but the fish life was Up at Manta and Cleaner Stn.!
6 Grey Nurse at the Manta Arch with two very pale males, almost albino in colour. Myriads of other fish hugging the rocks, hiding from the roaming Kingfish. Dive two saw another Nurse around Cleaner Station and 5 Black Cod at Shark Gutters.
A drift along Boulder wall never fails to impress with the thousands of resident Bullseyes Red Morwong and Tarwhine happy to watch us drift by.
Conditions Report:
- A little bumpy going out!
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 10m
Dive Report by Mike
9TH MARCH 2015 – COOL WATERS IN AT SPLIT SOLITARY ISLAND
South Solitary Island today did not have the best surface conditions but everyone made the most of the relaxed conditions under the water.
Dive one was at Buchanans Wall due to the massive current up the top end. Our divers seen a few Wobbygongs, Stingrays, and some big Black Cod.
Dive two we headed into Split Solitary Island in search of shelter from the northerly at South Solitary. Visibility was not as good but the amount of life there was awesome. Lots and Lots of Nudibranchs, a Bull-ray, Eastern Blue Gropers, a Spanish Dancer and 2 beautiful Lion-fish in Turtle Cove cave.
Conditions Report:
- N breeze, 12knots, 1.3m swell
- Temperature: 20°C-23°C
- Visibility: 8m-10m
Dive Report by Lindsay
15th MARCH 2015 – SOUTH SOLITARY HAS 30M PLUS VIS AND 26 DEGREE WATER TEMP
30m plus visibility and 26 degree water temp says it all!!! Apart from the warm, clear water the other highlights of today’s diving at South Solitary Island were the amount of marine life spotted by our divers. Eagle Rays, Lionfish, Trevally, Turtles, Black Cod and so much more.
This photo taken today is of a critically endangered Black Cod who had been unfortunately hooked by a fishermen. As you can see the fishing tackle still remains in the fishes mouth. This is another example of the importance of Marine Park Sanctuary Zones and how they should be increased, not reduced, to protect these treasures…
Conditions Report:
- Nice on top today
- Temperature: 26°C
- Visibility: 30m plus!
Dive Report by Andy
19TH MARCH 2015 – ANOTHER LEOPARD SHARK @ SOUTH SOLITARY
After a few days out of the water it was great to get back out diving today.
Arriving at South Solitary Island our divers were pleasantly surprised with the crystal clear 26 degree water.
Turtles, Black Cod, Lionfish, Eagle Rays, Grey Nurse Sharks and even a Leopard Shark were spotted today!
Conditions Report:
- Lovely on top today!
- Temperature: 26°C
- Visibility: 20m-25m
Dive Report by Andy
20TH MARCH 2015 – MANTA SPOTTED @ SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND!
MANTA RAY!!!!! Yes our divers were lucky enough to spot a small Manta Ray cruising around the crystal clear waters of South Solitary Island today. Apart from the Manta, our divers swam with another Leopard Shark, Grey Nurse Sharks, Black Cod, a HUGE Shovel Nose Ray and a squadron of Eagle Rays!
Conditions Report:
- Nice on top today
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 30m
Dive Report by Andy
22ND MARCH 2015- 30 M VISIBILITY STICKING AROUND AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
With the hope that the 25-30m visibility was still around we steamed out to South Solitary Island for a double dive!! The surface conditions were not flash at all but under the water was beautiful!!
Dive one the certified divers done a one way swim from Manta Arch to Shark Gutters, around 6 Grey Nurse Sharks were seen at the arch with a couple of eagle rays hanging around mid water.
Dive two we did not really have anywhere else to go due to the ugly surface conditions, we done a return swim from Shark Gutters to South Boulder and back again. a huge abundance of schooling fish on the wall with about 3 turtles spotted, lionfish, Frog-fish, Nudibranchs, Eagle Rays, a Spanish Dancer and lots lots more.
Photo taken today by Sarah of a Hawks bill Turtle and a little black Lion-fish just to the right of the turtle.
Conditions Report:
- ESE wind 14knots, 1.5 swell
- Temperature: 25°C-26°C
- Visibility: 25m-30m
Dive Report by Lindsay
23RD MARCH 2015- MAGIC MONDAY! FISH EVERYWHERE
After a rainy and bumpy start to the day, the sun came out and everyone had two great dives. With Sharks at Manta Arch, and Black Cod out in big numbers, it was certainly a Big Fish day. Loads of fish all around both dives with a Big Shovel-nose Ray and Eagle Rays on the second dive of Boulder Wall around to the Gantry.
Pic today from Deb showing a Huge Black Cod with hundreds of Fish in the background.
Conditions Report:
- SW breeze 10 knots, 1.8m swell
- Temperature: 24-25°C
- Visibility: 20-25m
Dive Report by Mike
26TH MARCH 2015 – SNORKEL TRIP TO SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
This morning was a lot calmer than the last couple of days we have had, there was 8 Snorkelers on the boat and only one scuba diver!!
We tied up to Shark gutters mooring for the first Snorkel/Dive the surface was a little lumpy and we had a couple of sickies but under the water was beautiful with an easy 20m visibility although the temperature had dropped to 23C.
Plenty to see throughout the whole morning including Bullrays, Wobbygongs, Lionfish, Eastern Blue Groper’s, Nudibranchs and much more!!
Conditions Report:
- ESE breeze 8 knots, 1.3m swell
- Temperature: 23°C-24°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
28TH MARCH 2015 – 30 M VISIBILITY, 26 DEGREES AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
Yet another outstanding day blowing bubbles!!! South Solitary Island treated us with amazing visibility and a balmy 26C water temperature!!
Dive one was at Manta Arch and the divers could clearly see the bottom (26m) from the surface, roughly 6 Grey Nurse Sharks were seen under the Arch, Black Cod, Sweet-lip, and a baby Lion Fish near the mooring.
Dive two was a drift from Shark Gutter to South Boulder although there was not much current at all, this made a very pleasant swim from one mooring to the other. Huge schools of Pomfreds, Bullseyes, Tarwhine, a couple Bull-Rays near Cleaner Station Cave and a Green Sea Turtle trying to gate crash the Navigation dive for the Advanced Open Water Divers!!!
Congratulations to Kelvin, Fiona and Rhys for finishing there dive Advanced Open Water today and also to Zandri for becoming a PADI Open Water Diver, welcome to the world of diving!!!!
Bring on tonight’s Night dive at Split Solitary Island !!!!
Conditions Report:
- SW breeze 8 knots, 1.1m swell
- Temperature: 25°C-26°C
- Visibility: 30m
Dive Report by Lindsay
29TH MARCH 2015 – IMPROVING VISIBILITY EVERYDAY!!
We did not think the visibility or conditions could of got any better than yesterday but South Solitary Island was spectacular today!!!
Mike dropped half of the happy customers at Manta Arch and Half at Shark Gutters where they seen about 6 Grey Nurse Sharks, Turtles, Eagle Rays, and Wobbygongs roaming the bottom everywhere.
Once everyone had their share of soup, tea, and biscuits during the surface interval dive two was a drift from Shark Gutters to South Boulder and again everyone thought that visibility had improved close to 35-40m!!! Loads to see including Turtles, Black Cod, Lionfish, Nudibranchs, Sting rays, Surgeon Fish, Bullseyes and many many more!!!
Congratulations to Oliver for becoming a Junior Open Water Diver !!!
Conditions Report:
- SW breeze 8 knots, 1.1m swell
- Temperature: 25°C-26°C
- Visibility: 35m-40m
Dive Report by Lindsay
30TH MARCH 2015 – PIMPERNEL ROCK!!!!!! MANTA RAY!!!!
Today we took Wild Fin all the way to Pimpernel Rock for the Solitary Island Marine Park to do some research on Black Cod, Fish, Grey Nurse Sharks and Debris in the Marine Sanctuary Zone that is there.
During the first dive we counted around 10-12 Black Cod and one MONSTER Queensland Groper which had to be 2.5m long!!! Pimpernels Cave which you could drive a Semi-truck through had about 10 Grey Nurse Sharks in there.
Hot cross buns for the surface interval were delicious!! thank you Lisa and Nicola
Second dive was just as amazing with 20-25m visibility, King fish, Travelly, Barracuda, Bat Fish, Fairy Basslet’s, Moray eels, Lion Fish, Grey Nurse Sharks, and Alligator Gar fish up near the surface. We even had the pleasure to see a Beautiful Manta Ray on the surface at NW Solitary Island on the way home!!!
Conditions Report:
- N breeze 9 knots, 1.0m swell
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 20m-25m
- Current: mild
Dive Report by Lindsay
