Dive Reports – May 2017
Take a look at our dive reports from May 2017! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in May 2017.
Dive Reports May 2017 – Table of Contents:
5TH MAY 2017 – BLUE WATER ARRIVES BACK AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
30m visibility was a nice welcome when we arrived at South Solitary Island this morning.
Dives one and two were both up the northern end of the island which was sheltered from the southerly winds, our divers got up close with lots of turtles on Boulder Wall, schools of fish near Shark gutters and some huge Black Cod near Cleaner Cave.
Barney the Loggerhead Turtle even came along to harass some of the divers.
Congratulations to Bree and Nikoma who finished their PADI Open Water Course today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 25m-30m
Dive Report by Lindsay
7th May 2017 – Turtles Galore at South Solitary Island
Today would have been the best days diving we have had in a long time with flat calm seas, 25-30m Visibility and a large variety of marine species. There were about 6-8 Grey Nurse Sharks around at Manta Arch along with Barney having a nap
Dive two was a drift from Cleaner Station around to The Gap, plenty of fish life on the wall, Eagle Rays, Angel Fish, Barracuda and we counted five different turtles during the drift.
Congratulations to Issac and Adam who completed their PADI Discover Scuba Dive today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C-22°C
- Visibility: 25m-30m
Dive Report by Lindsay
13th May 2017 – Spectacular Diving at South Solitary Island
South Solitary Island Marine Park had really turned it on for our divers today with blue, clear 25m visibility water and a large variety of marine life.
Dive one had the certified and Advanced Open Water divers in at Manta Arch while the new divers jumped in at Cleaner Station. Dive two was a casual drift from Shark Gutters to South Boulder, both dives had so much to see including Grey Nurse Sharks, Nudibranchs, a Black Cod getting some dental work, Turtles, our little Clown Triggerfish at Cleaner Station, Lionfish, a very strange looking Sponge Crab without his sponge and some beautiful schooling Chevron Barracuda.
It was an amazing day underwater!!!
Congratulations to Piper who finished her PADI Open Water Course today also to Daisy and William who completed the PADI Discover Scuba Course
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 25m
Dive Report by Lindsay
14th May 2017 – Mothers Day Dive!
It was a pretty ordinary trip out to South Solitary Island today. Despite the sloppy conditions, the water was Blue! Buchanans Wall had an abundance of life, including a Grey Nurse, Banded Coral Shrimp, Mosaic Moray Eel, Moray Eels, Shovel-nose Ray/shark, Groupers, Wobbygongs, Lionfish, and a Green Sea Turtle. The second dive was at South Boulder Wall, seeing loads of schooling fish, a Octopus at the bottom of the mooring line, Eagle Rays, another Green Sea Turtle, Nudibranchs, Painted Crayfish, Black Cod and so many more.
Congratulations Cristina in completing her PADI Advanced Open Water Course, well done!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C-22°C
- Visibility: 25m
Dive Report by Andy
17th May 2017 – All In The Name Of Science!
It was all about science today! South Solitary Underwater Research Group (SURG) and a few certified divers filled Wild Fin, ready to survey coral at South Solitary Island and Split Solitary Island. With Glassy conditions, divers first jumped in at Shark Gutters, then ending the dive at South Boulder, seeing an abundance of Schooling Fish, Grey Nurse Shark, Bull rays, Black Cod, Juvenile Clown Trigger Fish, Groupers, and Turtles.
Split Solitary Island was also thick with life, including Eagle Rays, Schooling Fish, Bulls-Eye, Crayfish and more.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 8m-10m
Dive Report by Andy
18th May 2017 – NMSC Exploring the Solitary Island’s!
We had two boats full of keen snorkellers and scuba divers from the National Marine Science Centre, heading to South Solitary Island and then Split Solitary Island. There ware plenty of turtles around, schools of Pomfreds, Tarwhine, Eagle Rays, Black Cod, Groupers and a lonesome female Grey Nurse shark that both the scuba divers and snorkellers seen.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
20th May 2017 – Two Dives, Two Islands!
Surprisingly, the sea conditions were nice and calm, producing a couple of great dives at South West Solitary and South Solitary Island. First dive was in search of the illusive Manta Ray, despite our luck, South West had an array of life, including a few Wobbys swimming around our divers, also Schooling Fish, Nudibranchs, Groupers and a thick floor of vibrant Corals. The second dive used the slight current at South Solitary for a drift from Cleaner Station to The Gantry. Again, seeing Turtles, Black Cod, Bat Fish, Bull Rays, Crayfish and loads of Schooling Fish.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Andy
21st May 2017- Grey Nurse action at Manta Arch
Another great day on the water, despite the poor forecast! Conditions were a bit swelly, but certainly good enough to Scuba Dive and Snorkel out at South Solitary, and that’s what we did!
Dive one had our divers at Manta Arch with at least 12 Grey Nurse Sharks in the area. spread out throughout the sandy bottom, we believe there was more in the deeper water we didn’t get to. Moving through to Cleaner Station, we faced a slight current. Two Blue Angelfish greeted us at Cleaner Rock, along with baby Clown Trigger.
Dive Two was from Cleaner Station to South Boulder. Most of the action was along the Boulder Wall. Wobbygongs layered on top of each other with huge Black Cod swimming above made for an unusual site. Schools of Bullseyes and Tarwhine and the odd Turtle gave it a great dive to talk about.
Unfortunately we lacked the number of divers today, maybe some missing out because of the poor quality weather reports. PLEASE talk to us and don’t believe the weather reports!!! Today was great diving, and a good day out!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Mike
23rd May 2017 – Grey Nurse Sharks with the sound of whales
We only had a few divers on the boat today as we headed to South Solitary Island.
Dive one was at Manta Arch where our divers descended down to the arch to find no Grey Nurse Sharks at all!! They were all found up close to Little Birdie which was odd as there was a large swell present, our divers counted around 8-10.
Dive 2 was a drift from Cleaner Station down to South Boulder lots of fish life on the Wall including a beautiful Blue Angle Fish, Wobbegongs swimming everywhere, schools of Surgeon fish at the surface and the amazing sound of Humpback Whales in the distance. Don’t forget our Pimpernel Rock trip this Saturday, we are also running trips to South Solitary Island on the same day using Wildfin!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C-21C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
27th May 2017 – Pimpernel Rock Rocks!!!!!
Loaded with excited divers, 2 Wild set off for Pimpernel Rock for today’s dive’s. Arriving at Pimpernel after a smooth ride out, we were greeted with perfect conditions! Clear blue water and very little current!
Descending onto the pinnacle, our divers spotted masses of huge Kingfish, Trevally, Amberjack and Wahoo!!!!! We then swam into the cave where we met with a school of big Jewfish and ten or more HUGE Grey Nurse Sharks! Multiple big Black Cod, dancing Eagle Rays, Lionfish, gigantic Drummer and so much more were spotted on our dives!
Pimpernel Rock is simply an incredible place to dive! The big fish life here is amazing! Standby for video footage on facebook and instagram!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 20m-25m
Dive Report by Andy
30th May 2017 – Exploring new sites
We had some of the Jetty Dive crew up nice and early to go and explore a new dive site!!
This dive site is only 5mins from the harbour and very easy diving, there was a lot of Macro life here like Nudibranchs, Sea Squirts, Soft Corals, Hawkfish and Octopus but we did see a few of the bigger things including Wobbygongs, Fiddler Rays, Schools of Moses Pearch, Tarwhine, Yellow Tail Scad and some very interesting Balling Catfish.
Everyone witnessed this battle between an Octopus and a Red Rock Crab… the Octopus won
Visibility – 10-12m
Temp – 20C
Location – Secret!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 10m-12m
Dive Report by Lindsay
