Dive Reports – March 2018
Take a look at our dive reports from March 2018! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in March 2018.
Dive Reports March 2018 – Table of contents
1ST MARCH 2018 – “SPOT” THE LEOPARD SHARK
Today was yet another magical day of diving at South Solitary Island. Both Buchanan’s Wall and the Cleaner Station were humming with life.
Schools of Barracuda and Trevally inundated the northern end of the Island. Big Black Cod, Turtles, Bullrays, Cuttlefish and the most beautiful Leopard Shark were just some of the highlights.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 15m-25m
Dive Report by Andy
2nd March 2018 – Big Blue at South Solitary!
20-25m visibility and 25c water temperature made for great diving today. Manta Arch and Shark Gutters were the hot spots! Plenty of Grey Nurse Sharks were spotted patrolling the Arch whilst Shark Gutters and the Boulder wall were screaming with fish life! Eagle Rays, Turtles, Barracuda and plenty of big Black Cod were just some of the highlights!
Congratulations to Shania and Irene on completing you PADI Open Water Diver Course today!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 20m-25m
Dive Report by Andy
3rd March 2018 – South Solitary at it’s best with tropical waters
It doesn’t get much better than 30m vis and 26c!!! Grey Nurse Sharks, Barracuda, Black Cod, Eagle Rays, schooling Tarwhine and Turtles.
Manta Arch had a number of Grey Nurse Sharks for some of our divers, whilst Boulder Wall had wall to wall fish. With 26c temp and very clear water, it was such a pleasure to just cruise and check it all out. With the forecast to be great again till Tuesday, no wonder we are booked out tomorrow and busy on Monday and Tuesday.
Vis 30mtrs Temp 26c
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 26°C
- Visibility: 30m
Dive Report by Andy
4th March 2018 – South Solitary Island Shows off all its Glory
What a spectacular day at South Solitary Island!! We had crystal clear 30-35m visibility and a beautiful 25C, there was also barely any current and no wind what so ever, this made for one of those day we only dream of.
Our divers today saw plenty on both dives including, Black Cod, Barracuda, Snapper, Turtles everywhere, Moray Eels, Painted Crayfish a Leopard Shark and a beautiful Mantis Shrimp at the end of Boulder Wall.
Huge Thank you to Gavin and the Group from the Queensland University for coming down for the weekend.
Congratulations to Pippi, Marshall, Stephanie and Simon who all become PADI Open Water Divers today!!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 30m-35m
Dive Report by Lindsay
5th March 2018- sharks on Monday too!
After a bit of southerly wind overnight, conditions were a little bumpy out at South Solitary Island, but still great conditions underwater.
A dive at Manta Arch had 6 sharks cruising close to our Advanced divers and the Students at Cleaner station had fish galore.
Dive 2 at Boulder Wall was wall to wall fish again.Visibility had dropped a bit from yesterday, so all the fish are back and hanging around. Our rare black Cod were out and about again!
Vis back to 15 to 20 mtrs and maybe a touch more in spots.
Temp 25 and dropping a bit to 23 c in the lower vis area.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C-23°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Mike
6th March 2018 – Wind and Rain No Match for Divers!
Today’s wind and rain didn’t stop our divers from getting amongst the action at both South and Split Solitary Islands. All of the big critters were found at South Solitary. Grey Nurse Sharks, Eagle Rays, Black Cod, Turtles, schools of Tarwhine and a big Sand Bar Shark were just some of the highlights!
Mingling amongst the Coral at Split Solitary, our divers spotted lots of Nudibranches, Cuttlefish and Moray Eels.
Vis 20m, Temp 25c.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Andy
13th March 2018 – 20m Vis & 25 Degrees
After a few days off due to bad weather, we were all very excited to go diving today! Arriving at South Solitary Island we were greeted with some fantastic conditions! The Cleaner Station was our first port of call. Schooling Trevally and Barracuda, Black Cod, Lionfish, Sweetlip and loads of Nudi’s.
Taking advantage of the uphill current, we dived from The Gantry to Shark Gutters on dive two. The Boulder Wall was screaming with life! Huge schools of Mado, Sweep and Goatfish, Turtles, Bullrays and a friendly Wobby!
Photo taken today by Neil Vaughan
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Andy
15th March 2018 – Great Conditions Despite Large Swell
Our divers were treated with some great diving conditions as the water is still blue and warm at South Solitary Island. A squadron of Eagle Rays were spotted on the first dive plus lots of Nudibranches, Turtles and Black Cod. Dive 2 was a leisurely swim from Buchanan’s Wall to the Gantry. More Black Cod, Lionfish, Turtles, and a Mantis Shrimp were the highlights on this dive.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Andy
16th March 2018- Turtle Mania at South Solitary!
Yet another magnificent day of diving at South Solitary Island! Although the swell was still quite large, it had dropped enough for us to dive both sides of the island. Green Turtles, Pipefish, Morays Eels, Lionfish and a Bullray were all spotted on the first dive. With the current again now running north to South, our divers enjoyed a drift from Shark Gutters to the Gantry. Plenty of big schooling fish spotted on this dive along with more some more turtles and plenty of Nudi’s!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Andy
17th March -Manta Arch and Drift were very good.
With a northerly chop that was making the sea lumpy everywhere, we had a dive at Manta that was great underwater, but not so good on top. Manta Arch had it’s regular haunt of Grey Nurse sharks, along with some unusual sightings like a Diamond Trevally by Tanya .
The popular Drift dive was the second dive and all our divers were amazed at the amount of fish that hung on Boulder Wall. Visibility and water temp again made for a great dive.
Congratulations to Simon for completing his PADI Open Water Diver Course and Sheldon and Janine completed their PADI Advanced Open Water Course
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 20m-25m
Dive Report by Mike
18th March 2018 – Solitary Island Duo!
Our divers enjoyed the diving at both Split and South Solitary Islands today. Sheltered from the northerly wind, Buchanan’s Wall was the perfect site for dive one. Green Turtles, Bullrays, Lionfish and a Pipefish were all spotted on this dive.
After morning tea on the boat we moved in to Split Solitary for today’s second dive. Big schools of Pomfrets and Bulleseys were spotted congregating around the mooring line. A few wobbergong sharks seem to be on the move. One of the groups on 2 wild even spotted a juvenile grey nurse shark hiding in one of the gutters.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C-25°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
20th March 2018 – Leopard Sharks at North Solitary Island
Taking advantage of the calm sea conditions, we ventured up to North Solitary Islands for two very nice dives today. Slipping in at Anemone Bay for dive one, we spotted two Leopard Sharks along with some big Black Cod, schools of Fusiliers and Green Turtles.
Dive two was spent enjoying the area around the Elbow Cave. More Turtles, Bull Rays, Lionfish, Clown Fish, Black Cod and loads of tropical fish life were spotted on this dive.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
25th March 2018 – Certifed PADI Freedivers
South Solitary Island was our best choice today considering the conditions first dive site was Buchannan’s wall.
Vis wasn’t the best five – ten metres, water temp 25 degrees and all the usual critters down there includingTurtles, Wobbegong sharks and schools of Bullseyes.
Second dive was a drift from the top end, Our divers got in at shark gutters and the vis was slightly better.
South boulder wall was teaming with life, three huge Sting rays interacting, Black cod, schools of Bream, Bullseyes
couple of Turtles as we made our way to the gantry.
We had our first PADI Freediver course today, all the students did extremely well in the very challenging conditions
Congratulations Nikki and Elisa who become PADI Freedivers today!!!!
Thankyou Craig Lewis for your unique find and great photo of this Leafy Scorpion Fish today
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 5-10m
Dive Report by Lindsay
26th March 2018 – Fish Galore at South Solitary Island Today
The ride out to South Solitary Island this morning was a little bumpy due to the freshening north east wind. After checking the conditions at the northern end of the island we decided that dive one would be in the shelter of Buchanan’s wall . Vis was about 5 metres and water temp 25 degrees. The PADI Advanced Open Water Course students completed their deep dive on dive one and spotted a huge Green Turtle on the wall. Lots of small critters were also spotted!
The wind backed off after morning tea allowing us to do a drift dive from The Cleaner Station to The Gantry. One of the groups went into the cave and spotted three huge Bull Rays and a sleeping turtle. South Boulder Wall didn’t disappoint either, we should start calling this site fish soup! You couldn’t see where you were going for all of the fish. Schools of Surgeon fish, Trevally, Bullseyes, Black Cod a few Wobbegong sharks on the move finished off a nice drift to the gantry.
Congratulations to Benjamin and Josie on completing there Advanced Open Water Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 5m
Dive Report by Andy
29th March 2018 – Thursday is Ray day
Although there was a bit of swell and wind this morning we made our way out to South Solitary Island.
We had Open Water Students and Advanced Open Water Students on-board completing their required skills for the courses.
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall and dive two was at Cleaner Station, both dives had lots to see including Bullrays, Surgeon Fish, Fusiliers, Travelly, Flutemouth Fish, Spotted Sting-Rays, Turtles and plenty of Nudibranchs. Kate’s group even got a glimpse of a Manta Ray!!! (but no photo)
Congratulations to Rebecca Krebs who finished her PADI Advanced Open Water course today!!
HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 4m-8m
Dive Report by Lindsay
30th March 2018 – Good Friday Diving!
Loaded with excited divers, both “Wild Fin” and “2 Wild” made there way out to South Solitary Island for two great dives today. Despite the visibility being a little basic, the action underwater was amazing. Plenty of Bullrays, Turtles, Black cod and Kingfish roamed the northern end of the island while the boulder wall was inundated with schools of Tarwhine, Sweep, Goatfish and Trevally. Looking forward to more great diving over the Easter long weekend.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 5m-10m
Dive Report by Andy
31st March 2018 – Bonanza of Bull Rays at South Solitary Island
Despite the vis being a little basic, South Solitary Island was full of life today! We had an unusual sighting of 15 plus Bullrays who were happy to mingle amongst the divers on the Boulder Wall. Plenty of Wobbegong Sharks about too! Black Cod, Lionfish, Turtles and one lonely Grey Nurse Sharks were just some of the highlights.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 5m-10m
Dive Report by
