Dive Reports – March 2017
Take a look at our dive reports from March 2017! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in March 2017.
Dive Reports March 2017 – Table of Contents:
2ND MARCH 2017 – BLUE WATER AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
The talk of the day was definitely still on the 5m Whale Shark sighting from the day before but unfortunately there was no sign of this majestic beast. Our divers still had lots to talk about on both dives with plenty of Wobbygongs, schools of Travelly, Nudibranchs, Turtles, Emperor Anglefish, Eagle rays, and a Giant Guitar ray near the Gantry.
Congratulations to Kyle who completed her PADI Discover Scuba course today!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C-25°C
- Visibility: 10m-20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
3RD MARCH 2017 GREY NURSE SHARKS AT MANTA ARCH
Grey Nurse Sharks were cruising Manta Arch on our first dive and gave us some great close encounters! A least 10 sharks were in that immediate area and stayed around and gave a show to our group of Divers. A milky 12-15 mtrs visibility kept had them cruise in and out of the range of view. A huge Bull ray with a flotilla of Black Kingfish showed up and drew in a small school of Queenfish too.
Dive 2 was at Shark gutters and had the usual schools of fish hanging around between boulder Wall and Cleaner Station. Congratulations to John Jensen for completing his PADI Open Water Diver course
Today’s picture is from Laura taken at Manta arch on Dive 1.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Mike
4TH MARCH 2017 – LEOPARD SHARKS AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND!
With a calm sea and a great bunch of divers, we were feeling lucky, Leopard Shark Lucky! Buchanans Wall was our first choice, followed by a drift from Cleaner Station to the Gantry. Highlights today were a couple of Leopard Sharks, Eagle Rays, Black Cods, the usual Schooling Fish, our friendly Turtles, Orangutan Crab, Nudis and all the other wonderful little critters of the sea.
Congratulations Nadia and Matt in completing their PADI Open Water Diver course, well done!
Vis 15-20m Temp 24c
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Andy
5TH MARCH 2017 – LEOPARD SHARKS, EAGLE RAYS AND 40M VIS!
What a day to be diving South Solitary Island! Words cannot even describe it! Leopard Sharks, Eagle Rays, Turtles and 40m Vis! Oh yeah, and it was 26c!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 26°C
- Visibility: 40m
Dive Report by Andy
12TH MARCH 2017 – SUNNY SUNDAY!
After a dry week, we were all keen to dive this sunny sunday. To our surprise, conditions were amazing! South Solitary Island was blue, warm, and full of fish activity, including a Leopard Shark, Eagle Rays, Turtles, Groupers, Black Cods, Orangutan Crab, Crayfish, Bull Rays, Wobbygongs, Schooling fish and many more.
Vis 15-20 Temp 25c
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Andy
15TH MARCH 2017 – RAINY DAYS UNDER THE SEA
A bit of rain didn’t stop us from enjoying the Solitary Islands today, after all, we’re going to get wet anyway. Divers explored Shark gutters for their first and then ventured to Grouper Island for the second, seeing a Emperor Angelfish, Leopard Shark, Eagle Rays, Porcelain Crab, Masses of Schooling Fish, and the usual Nudis, Wobbys, Groupers and Black Cod.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Andy
22ND MARCH 2017 – SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND HOMES LEOPARD SHARKS
This mornings dives were a perfect start to the day. We first explored Buchanans Wall, seeing a dozen wobbys, loads of Numb Rays, Coral Shrimp, Octopus, a Squid, Abbotts Moray Eel, and Banded Rays. The highlights of the day however, were a couple of Leopard Sharks cruising up and down Boulder Wall, also Black Cod, Groupers, Lionfish, Turtles, and loads of Big Pelagic Schooling Fish as we drifted from Shark Gutters to The Gantry on our second dive.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C-25°C
- Visibility: Patchy, max of 12m
Dive Report by Andy
24TH MARCH 2017 – WARM WATER AT THE SOLITARY ISLANDS
Hiding from the Southerly breeze, we jumped in at Manta Arch for today’s first dive. 4 or 5 Grey Nurse were spotted patrolling the area plus large schools of Trevally and Goatfish.
Dive two was spent exploring Shark Gutters and the Cleaner Station area. Black Cod, Bullrays, Turtles, Octopus, a Shovel Nose, and a surprisingly large number of Numb Rays were spotted on this dive!
Vis 10-12m, temp 24/25c.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C-25°C
- Visibility: 10m-12m
Dive Report by Andy
25TH MARCH 2017 – NORTH AND SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND DUO!
Both “Wild Fin” and “2 Wild” were out exploring both North and South Solitary Islands today. With the water temp now sitting around 25c, and visibility around 15m, our divers took their time to enjoy what both Island had to offer. The highlights from North Solitary included Eagle Rays, Black Cod, Clown Triggerfish, Painted Crayfish and the always amazing sea of Anemones!
The divers at South Solitary were definitely not disappointed either. One very friendly Leopard Shark, Shovel Nose Rays, Eagle Rays, Octopus and our baby Clown Triggerfish were just some of the standouts!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Andy
26TH MARCH 2017. LEOPARD SHARKS AT HOME AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
Visibility picked up overnight to be a lovely 20 metres and would have been more if the sun was shining. The first Dive was at Buchanan’s Wall and had fish and turtles everywhere. The second dive was the highlight though, with 5 different Leopard Sharks between Shark Gutters and the Gantry. along with those we had Eagle Rays cruising Boulder Wall and Turtles around the gap.
With a pleasant slow drift, everything just appeared at the right time in front of us as we cruised along. A great 25c waater temp made it toasty warm too.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Mike
27TH MARCH 2017 – GREY NURSE SHARKS AND LEOPARD SHARKS!
Divers and snorkelers swam with some of South Solitary Islands best today! Grey Nurse Sharks at Manta Arch and Leopards sharks around Shark Gutters through to The Gantry were today’s highlights, also Eagle Rays, Turtles, Black Cods, Bull Rays, Groupers, Crayfish, Moray Eels, Nudis and loads of big Schooling Fish about.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Andy
29TH MARCH 2017 – CALM BEFORE THE STORM
Today’s diving was just amazing! From Grey Nurse Sharks to Leopard Sharks, we were in awe of the amount of fish life at South Solitary Island. Also Turtles, Moray Eels, Bull Rays, Eagle Rays, Black Cods, Shovel-nose Ray and masses of Schooling Fish.
Congratulations Mikkel and Magnus in completing their PADI Open Water Course, well done!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C-25°C
- Visibility: 10m-12m
Dive Report by Andy
