Dive Reports – March 2023
Take a look at our dive reports from March 2023! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in March 2023.
Dive Reports – Table of Contents:
5TH MARCH 2023 – END OF WEEK DIVING
We had our window of opportunity today and headed to South Solitary Island.
Dive one had the Advanced Open Water Students and some of the certified divers get in at Manta Arch while the rest got in at Cleaner Station. There was about
6-8 Grey Nurse Sharks in the Arch, Schools of Trevally, Bullseyes and Sweep, Eagle Rays and a Leopard Shark around Cleaner Station mooring.
Dive two was a drift for the certified divers while the Advanced Students did their Navigation dive at The Gantry. We had Black cod near Cleaner Cave, Moray Eels, Angelfish, Eagle Rays and Leopard Sharks down Boulder Wall and Turtles near the Gap.
Congratulations to Jemma who finished her PADI Open Water Diver course today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23-25°C
- Visibility: 10-18m
Dive Report by Lindsay
12th March – Mega Wild to North Solitary island
On Sunday the 12th we had MegaWild with a big group head to North Solitary Island and 2Wild head to South Solitary Island.
At North Solitary, our first dive was at Anemone Bay. Our second dive was Anemone Bay drift down to the Canyons.
The highlights of these dives at north was definitely the 10-15 Leopard sharks. Today’s image is from Bryce, of 4 Leopard sharks laying on the seafloor.
Meanwhile, at South Solitary, we dropped our divers into Manta Arch and The Gantry- for their first dive, Buchanan’s Wall for the second dive.
At South Solitary, our divers saw approximately half a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks. Queensland Grouper, Bullrays, a Sand Bar Shark, Turtles and schools of bullseyes at Buchanan’s Wall
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C-23°C
- Visibility: South: 5-8m, North: 15m
Dive Report by Tara
16th March 2023 – PERFECT Conditions
What an epic day!!!!
South Solitary Island was about as perfect as you would get today.
Dive one was at Manta Arch, there was 6-8 huge Grey Nurse Sharks in the Arch, one Leopard Shark and some big Black Cod.
Dive two was a drift from Shark Gutters down to The Gantry. This dive was amazing with a very gentle current we cruised past Nine Leopard Sharks, Eagle Rays, Turtles, Lionfish, and a big beautiful school of tiny fish at the Gantry.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 25m-30m
Dive Report by Lindsay
17th March 2023 – Coffs Senior College Divers
We had Mega Wild loaded with Open Water Students today from the Coffs Harbour Senior College. This year we have 15 keen students taking on the open water world and today they completed dives one and two of the course.
The conditions today were perfect with minimal current and crystal clear water.
Dive one was at The Gantry and dive two was a drift from Shark gutters down to The Gantry. We had Leopard Sharks, Yellow Box Fish, swooping Eagle Rays, Spotted Stingrays and 10-12 Turtles throughout dive two.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 30m-35m
Dive Report by Lindsay
18th March 2023 – Sharks for Saturday
Today with the heat pumping and beautiful seas we headed out to South Solitary Island.
For our first dive we had a group dropped in at Manta Arch, while another headed down at the gantry. At Manta Arch, there were 6 Grey Nurse Sharks in deeper areas of the site! We also spotted a couple of leopard sharks along with some Black Cod, and yellow boxfish. For the divers that dropped into the Gantry, they spotted a leopard shark as well, in addition to large schools of bait fish.
For the second dive, our divers did a drift dive from Shark Gutters to the Gantry. On this dive they saw 5 leopard sharks! They also saw Green Sea Turtles on this dive, and the beautiful blue water gave us beautiful sights of the abundance of fishlife.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 25m-30m
Dive Report by Tara
19th March 2023 – Clear water at South Solitary
South Solitary Island had amazing visibility for us to enjoy again today.
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall, we had 2 Leopard Sharks, Bullrays, Moray eels, Schools of Bulleyes and multiple Blue Tangs.
Dive two, the certified divers got in at Manta Arch and made their way to The Gantry where the Open Water Students were. There was 4-6 Grey Nurse in the Arch, Turtles and Blue Gropers at the end of The Gap and a very graceful Leopard Shark on 5 Metre Rock which made it an amazing way to end the dive.
Congratulations to Mia and Sophia who finished their PADI Advanced Open Water today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 25°C
- Visibility: 30m-35m
Dive Report by Lindsay
24th March 2023 – Students get certified
The rain this morning didn’t dampen the hype around the dive shop.
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall, we were welcomed to beautiful underwater conditions along with some epic marine creatures including Bullrays, Leopard Sharks, Turtles, Schools of Bullseyes and Blue Tangs.
Dive two had the boat split dive groups from the top end and at The Gantry.
Lots to see at all locations today, the highlights on this dive was the multiple Leopard Sharks on boulder wall and numerous Turtles near The Gap.
Congratulations to all the Coffs Senior College students who completed their last two dives for the Open Water Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 25m-30m
Dive Report by Lindsay
25th March 2023 – Countless Leopard Sharks
We had another fabulous day under the water.
Dive one, everyone descended down Manta mooring to find 6-8 Grey Nurse Sharks circling under the Arch in 22m of water! We had a large Green Sea Turtle come and say hello, a 1.5m Queensland Grouper, and 3 Leopard Sharks spotted throughout the dive.
Dive two was a leisurely drift from Shark Gutters down to South Boulder. This dive was amazing!!! We counted at least 13 Leopard Sharks, most were swimming around but 4-5 were chilling on the sand down Boulder Wall.
Other highlights were the schools of Bullseyes, huge Black Cod, an Eagle Ray that come within 2 metres of our divers and a Peacock Mantis Shrimp at South Boulder Mooring.
Congratulations to Bohdi and Amaia who finished their PADI Open Water Course today.
Photo taken today by Lindsay
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°-25°C
- Visibility: 20m-25m
Dive Report by Lindsay
26th MARCH 2023 – Student Sunday!
Today we loaded 2Wild with Open Water Students and an Advanced Student as we headed for South Solitary Island.
The conditions today were great with minimal current and blue waters. For our first dive, our Open Water students dropped in at Cleaners Station where they saw a Leopard Shark, Black Cod, Nudibranchs, and schooling fish.
Our Advanced student dropped in at Manta Arch and saw approximately 6 Grey Nurse Sharks.
For our second dive, everyone descended at Shark Gutters where we saw more Leopard Sharks, a baby Peacock Mantis Shrimp, and massive Turtles.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Teagan
27th March 2023- Sunny Diving adventures at south sol
The sun was shining for our divers as they headed to South Solitary Island this morning.
On the first dive, a group of divers descended at Shark Gutters and drifted their way down to the Gantry where the Open Water Students were diving. On this dive, divers saw a dozen Leopard Sharks, plenty of turtles, and a mystery whaler shark in the distance.
Our second dive was yet another fantastic time underwater as our divers drifted from The Gantry to Bunchanan’s wall. Marine life included on this dive were more turtles, schools of Bullseyes, Lionfish, and some colourful nudibranchs hanging along the wall at Buchanan’s.
Congratulations to Sally, Lachlan, Morgan, and Holly for completing their PADI Open Water Dive course
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 25m
Dive Report by Teagan
29th March 2023- Despite the rain, diving was amazing at South Solitary!
Mega wild steamed out to South Solitary this morning, full of divers eager to jump in the water as a pod of dolphins joined us on our journey.
For our first dive, we had a group descend at Manta Arch and a group cruise around the top end of the island at Cleaner Station. This dive was magical! At Manta arch, there were 6 Grey Nurse sharks in the deeper areas. At the top end, our divers saw about 10 Leopard Sharks, 3 Turtles, a massive bull ray, and few Black Cod drifting by. From the surface, our snorkelers were lucky enough to see a Hammerhead Shark!
Keen to get back in, we descended at Shark Gutter and drifted to South Boulder for our second dive. This dive delivered the goods and we were not disappointed! We counted about 6 more Leopard Sharks, a curious Sandbar Shark swimming in the shallows, a male Bull Shark, more turtles, and some cheeky eels hiding in the rocks.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 25m-30m
Dive Report by Teagan
30th March 2023 – fantastic conditions at south solitary island
With only a small group of divers and snorkeler’s “2 wild” steamed out to South Sol this morning. All divers dropped in on Manta Arch to see at least half a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks cruising in and out of the Arch.
We also spotted on the sandy patch a lazy Leopard Shark having a nap, divers slowly made there way through the Gap finishing at the Gantry. Dive one we had Yellow Box fish everywhere, two leopard Sharks swimming in the Gap, Schooling Fish, and a couple of Moray Eels. After morning tea dive two was a drift dive from Cleaner station to the Gantry, this dive had it all, Leopard Sharks, Bull Rays, Black Cod, Green Turtles.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
