Dive Reports – March 2019
Take a look at our dive reports from March 2019! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in March 2019.
Dive Reports March 2019 – Table of Contents:
6TH MARCH 2019 – NEWBIE DIVERS DISCOVER SOLITARY ISLAND MARINE PARK
After a long spell from diving due to poor weather and visibility we got out to South Solitary Island today with some students and certified divers.
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall and around Cable Trail, we had lots of schooling fish, Nudibranchs, Wobbegongs, a very friendly Eastern Blue Grouper and loads of Moray Eels.
Dive two was at The Gantry where we had a few little baby Anemone Fish, Blullrays, Travelly and a couple of Octopus in the wreckage near the island.
Congratulations to Tom who completed his PADI Open Water Course today.6TH MARCH 2019 – NEWBIE DIVERS DISCOVER SOLITARY ISLAND MARINE PARKAfter a long spell from diving due to poor weather and visibility we got out to South Solitary Island today with some students and certified divers.
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall and around Cable Trail, we had lots of schooling fish, Nudibranchs, Wobbegongs, a very friendly Eastern Blue Grouper and loads of Moray Eels.
Dive two was at The Gantry where we had a few little baby Anemone Fish, Blullrays, Travelly and a couple of Octopus in the wreckage near the island.
Congratulations to Tom who completed his PADI Open Water Course today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 8m-10m
Dive Report by Lindsay
8th March 2019 – Blue Water and Certified Open Water Divers
The blue water is back!!! We had some amazing dives today at South Solitary Island and the northern end of the island was the pick to hide from the southerly wind.
Dive one was at South Boulder as this was the calmest for everyone and plenty to see with schools of Travelly, Black Cod, Sweep, Tarwhine and a solo Leopard Shark near North Boulder.
Dive two was at Cleaner Station and a few of the divers made their way around to Manta Arch in search of Grey Nurse Sharks, we were welcomed by 8-10 Grey nurse there and a beautiful 25m visibility. We also had a couple of Lionfish in Cleaner cave and some huge Eagle Rays gliding in the current.
Congratulations to Dylan, Chelsea and Daniel who all completed their PADI Open Water Course today.
Paraplegic Daniel Woodward was awarded his PADI Open Water Certificate by Instructor Lindsay Devery.
“Daniel has been the most inspirational student I have ever had and it was my absolute pleasure to help him achieve his PADI Open Water Certification” Lindsay said.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 15m-25m
Dive Report by Lindsay
9th March 2019 – Two Boats Head Out To South Solitary Island
Two boats headed out to South Solitary island today full of excited divers, Wildfin was full of certified divers so they dropped in at Archers Cave, heaps to see in the cave, Black Cod, Wobbegong Sharks, Nudibranchs, Bull eyes, heaps of macro life were also spotted.
After morning tea both boats headed up to the Northern end of the Island, Cleaner Station was decided for dive two. All divers from 2Wild dropped in and made there way to the Gantry, you couldn’t see North Boulder for fish, schools of Tarwhine, Bream, Goat fish, and more Black Cod.
Two Eagle rays were spotted, and one group were lucky enough to spot a Leopard Shark.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
10th March 2019 – Fish Soup at North Boulder
The clear water at South Solitary is on the come back!! Buchanan’s Wall had about 15-20m visibility and the drift from the northern end down to The Gantry was very much the same.
Both dives had plenty to see including Bullrays, Eagle rays, Lionfish, lots of Green Sea Turtles near The Gantry, a Stars-and-Stripes Toadfish near South Boulder, roughly eleven Black Cod and thousands of different schooling fish near North Boulder that we were nearly pushing them out of the way to get through!!!
Congratulations to Bec and Chris who finished their Advanced Open Water Course today and Sara who become a PADI Open Water Diver also.
Photo taken today of Bec with the Toadfish
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
11th March 2019 – Black Cod Galore
Monday diving turned out to be quite enjoyable although our visibility has dropped a bit. Around 10-15 mtrs at the Northern end and 15 Mtrs along the western side, South Solitary Island was very pleasant, both under and above. Today was the annual Black Cod survey, and had a total count of 20, which is one of the highest counts so far. Most of the protected species today, were along the northern side from Cleaner Station South Boulder, along with myriads of other fish. This included big Eagle Rays slowing up to get cleaned by the resident cleaner wrasse. Picture is of a big Bull Ray that is always around Cleaner Station gutter when we are there.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Mike
15th March 2019 – Student Diver Day
Today we had a boat full of excited students all ready to do their first open water dives.
Arriving at South Solitary Island the blue water only increased excitement aboard Wildfin. For the first dive we jumped in at Buchanan’s Wall where our divers saw Wobbegongs, Black Cod, Turtles and Cuttlefish.
For our second dive we seeked shelter at the northern end getting in at Shark Gutters and among Eagle Rays, Morays, and large numbers of schooling Trevally, Goatfish and Sweep
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
16th March 2019 – Two Boats out on Great Conditions
Despite the rainy conditions both 2 wild and Wildfin shot out to South Solitary Island and were rewarded with excellent warm, blue water.
2 Wild went around to the east side of the island, finding ten or more Grey Nurse Sharks under Manta Arch before drifting to Cleaner Station. While Wildfin’s divers got in at Shark Gutters, Finding Bullrays, Eagle Rays and another lonely Nurse Shark
After a wet and rainy surface interval we were eager to jump back in, with both boats at the top end we found Turtles, Black Cod and Spotted Eagle Rays surrounded by huge schools of fish.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Mike
17th March 2019 – Great conditions despite the forecast
Today all the elements lined up to give a perfect day of diving at South Solitary. Despite some overcast weather leaving the marina the conditions quickly improved, with no wind, swell and that wonderful blue water still hanging around.
We hopped in at Manta Arch for dive one, finding good numbers of Grey Nurse Sharks, Eagle Rays and schooling Bat Fish.
After a great surface interval and the sun coming out we got in at Shark Gutters. Doing a dive along the boulder wall that was teeming with fish, Black Cod, Wobbegongs and Turtles.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Mike
20th March 2019 – Warm and Clear water in the Arch
A top day at Manta Arch today, with clear 30 mtr visibility water and holding at a warm 25c temp.
Our small group of divers enjoyed the conditions with the help of 6 Grey Nurse Sharks cruising around the arch through schools of Silver Trevally. Around the outskirts of the area were loads of fish including Black Cod and Red Morwong.
Dive 2 was all around the northern end of South Solitary from Cleaner Station to South Boulder, with large amounts of Tarwhine and Bullseyes hanging along Boulder wall. All the divers were amazed at the amount of fish all over the dive from small tropicals to Big Black Cod.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 25m-30m
Dive Report by Mike
22nd March 2019 – Great conditions for CHEC Students
Today was a great way to start the weekend with flat seas and warm water. While the visibility had dropped slightly since last weekend the water is nice as ever. Dive one at Shark Gutters had the CHEC student group diving with huge schools of fish on boulder wall, A Numb Ray and large Black Cod.
The final dive for the open water students was a drift from South Boulder to The Gantry. Our divers saw huge numbers of Turtles, octopus and a few Wobbegongs lazing about.
Congratulations to the CHEC students who completed their final dives today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 26°C
- Visibility: 10m-20m
Dive Report by Mike
23th March 2019 – Great conditions at South Solitary Island
South Solitary turned it on for both of our dive boats today, with 26 degree water and stunning 25m visibility. While 2 Wild moored at Buchanan’s wall, Wildfin’s divers got in at Manta Arch, finding 10+ Grey Nurse Sharks in the Arch, elsewhere the divers got among cuttlefish, Bull Rays and Wobbegongs
Dive two was a drift from the top end at shark gutters down to The Gantry, our divers counted at least 8 turtles during the drift, as well as seeing a Shovel Nose Shark, Morays in the rocks and some large Black Cod
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 26°C
- Visibility: 20m-25m
Dive Report by Mike
24th March 2019 – More Sharks at Manta Arch
With a smooth ride out to South Solitary Island the divers were excited to get in that lovely blue water that has been hanging around all weekend. A deep dive a Manta Arch had Grey Nurse Sharks circling and the swim to Cleaner Station brought Numb Rays, Bull Rays and Black Cod.
Dive two had us drifting from Shark Gutters down the wall, finding Eagle Rays cruising in the blue, huge schools of fish, Painted Crayfish, and loads of Turtles in the Gap. A great end to the weekend.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 26°C
- Visibility: 25m
Dive Report by Mike
29th March 2019 – Nurse Shark Diving
With the weather about to turn sour we managed to slip in at Manta Arch for a quick Friday dive. Swimming to Cleaner Station our divers encountered around a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks, Numb Rays, and a few scattered Wobbegongs.
The second dive was an uphill drift from South Boulder to Shark Gutters, finding a Mantis Shrimp, Bull Rays and huge numbers of schooling fish.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Mike
