Dive Reports – May 2019
Take a look at our dive reports from May 2019! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in May 2019.
Dive Reports – Table of Contents:
1ST MAY 2019 – SEA SNAKE SURPRISE AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
Buchanan’s Wall at South Solitary Island was the pick for dive one, We had a few curious turtles, Mantis Shrimp, Eastern Blue Groupers and a couple of Fire Gobies out in deeper water.
Dive two was a drift from Shark Gutters down to The Gantry where we had a big, beautiful spotted Eagle Ray near South Boulder, Kingfish, Painted Crayfish, Turtles, Moray Eels and a very rare Banded Sea Snake near the Gantry swimming along happily but mainly lost i think.
Congratulations to Kerry who finished her PADI Open Water Course today!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 15m-18m
Dive Report by Lindsay
4TH OF MAY 2019
With a break in the weather we made our way out to South Solitary Island. With a cracking current at the top end we found shelter and made our first dive at Buchanan’s Wall. A great first dive with a few Turtles, a leafy scorpionfish, cuttlefish and some monster Wobbegongs alongside the island!
Second Dive we took advantage of the East Australian Current and performed a drift from Shark Gutters to The Gantry, along the way finding Eagle Rays, huge schools of fish and a giant Octopus at the Gantry!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 24°C
- Visibility: 25m
Dive Report by Mike
9th May 2019
With a break in the weather 2 Wild shot out to South Solitary. A small drop in the water temp has brought the Grey Nurse Sharks to the top end of the island with divers sighting at least four sharks around Cleaner Station, Leafy Scorpionfish and Lionfish, a Shovelnose Shark made an appearance at Shark Gutters as well as a Giant Barracuda!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Mike
14th May 2019 – Sharks and Turtles
With the swell dropping and sea conditions good enough to snorkel, 2 Wild ventured out with a group of divers and snorkellers for a couple of great dives at South Solitary today.
First dive was with a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks at Manta Arch, visibility of 15 metres was a little milky at depth, but still ideal for diving the arch. Along with the Grey Nurse was heaps of Silver Trevally and Tarwhine.
Dive two started at Cleaner Station and finish at the Gantry with a nice slow swim. At Cleaner Station, a Bull-Ray challenged a turtle for floor space on the gutter floor, whilst at Shark Gutters, a large Blue Angelfish swam happily with a couple of big Black Cod. A grey nurse appeared at the Third Gutter, and a total of 7 Turtles were counted on the dive.
A great day out with lovely calm seas on the way home.
Visibility 15 mtr Water Temp 22c
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Mike
16th May 2019 – Grey Nurse Sharks for Jetty High Marine Class
Although surface conditions were far from nice, under the water was awesome and our divers from the Jetty High School Marine class loved it.
Dive one was at Cleaner Station where we had a lots of Black Cod, Octopus, Nudibranchs in Cleaner Cave, and 3 Grey Nurse Sharks out in the deeper water.
Dive two was a Drift from Cleaner Station down to South Boulder we had a few more Grey Nurse Sharks on this dive which the Open Water Students loved!! There was also a couple Mantis Shrimp, Eagle Rays, Bullrays, and some Travelly out in the current.
Congratulations to Brooklyn, Ella, Kyah, Sarah, Riley and Joey who finished their Open Water Course today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
17th May 2019 – Sunny South Solitary
With blue skies and much more favourable conditions 2 Wild shot out to South Solitary Island. The warm, clear water still seems to be hanging around when we jumped in at Cleaner Station for a drift down to South Boulder. Divers finding countless schooling fish. Black Cod and a lone Grey Nurse Shark along the way, though the highlight had to be the five Eagle Rays cruising up the Boulder Wall!
We continued drifting around the island for dive two, leaving South Boulder and heading to the Gantry, Octopus, Mantis Shrimp and Wobbegongs were sighted and at least eight Turtles around the Gantry!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Mike
18th May 2019 – Fantastic Conditions at South Solitary
A warm start to the weekend above and below the water today we made straight for Manta Arch, diving down for a swim over to Cleaner Station. With About seven to ten Grey Nurse Sharks under the Arch, Mantis Shrimp, and Octopus the warm clear water made it a very enjoyable dive.
Dive two was a short drift from Shark Gutters to South Boulder, with Eagle Rays, Eastern Fiddler Rays, and Turtles mixing with the huge schools of fish along the wall!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Mike
19th May 2019 – South Solitary Island
We had a slight southerly puff which made the northern end of South Solitary Island the pick for both dives this morning.
While the Certified divers mixed in with the Grey Nurse Sharks at Manta Arch the Open Water students descended on Cleaner Station to find plenty of Black Cod, Sweep, Bullrays in the cave and big schools of Pomfreds.
Dive two was a drift from Cleaner Station down to South Boulder, we had lots of Tarwhine on boulder wall, Painted Crays, Octopus, Blue Groupers, Wobbegongs and a tiny Frog Fish just past South Boulder.
Congratulations to Melissa, Simone, Joshua, Laura, Thomas and Lachlan who completed their Open Water Course today and to Ryan who finished his last dive of his Advanced Open Water course today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Lindsay
24th May 2019 – Advanced Students mix with Grey Nurse Sharks
We had very little wind and swell today which made for splendid conditions at South Solitary Island.
Dive one was at Manta Arch where we had a few Grey Nurse Sharks under the Arch, Travelly, Sweetlips, and Pomfreds closer to the island.
Dive two was a drift from Cleaner Station around to The Gantry so much to see during this very relaxing dive including Kingfish, Slipper Lobsters, Yellow Boxfish, Eagle Rays, Anemone Fish, Turtles, Grey Nurse Sharks along the Boulder Wall and some huge Black Cod near North Boulder
Photo taken today under Manta Arch.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C-22°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
25th May 2019 – Fantastic conditions at South Solitary Island
Wildfin and 2Wild headed out to South Solitary Island this morning spotting some breaching Humpbacks on the way. We had divers get in at both Shark Gutters and Manta Arch for our first dive, spotting plenty of Grey Nurse sharks, along with a cheeky Hawksbill turtle, Bull rays and plenty of nudibranchs in Cleaner Station Cave. Dive two was a great drift down the island with divers spotting two Mantis Shrimp, Crayfish, more turtles, schooling fish and two graceful Mobula rays.
Congratulations to Kade on finishing his Open Water Dive Course and Noah who completed his Advance Open Water Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 20m-25m
Dive Report by Andy
26th May 2019 – Super South Solitary Sunday!
South Solitary was the place to be this morning with lovely conditions under the water, Our first dive of the day was a swim from Manta Arch to Cleaner Station. Eight Grey Nurse Sharks were cruising around the Arch, Lionfish, Moray Eels and and Octopus hiding in the rocks.
Dive two was a drift from Cleaner Station to South Boulder and the top end put on a show, Our divers saw another four Grey Nurse, Turtles, Eagle, Bull, and Mobula Rays, even a school of Barracuda hanging around.
Vis 20m
Temp 23-22c
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 23°C-22°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Mike
30th May 2019 – Turtle Central at South Solitary
The cool start to the morning dindn’t deter today’s divers, we were rewarded with some amazing diving at South Solitary Island! For dive one we jumped in a Cleaner Station, finding Grey Nurse Sharks, Wobbegong Sharks, Hawksbill and Green Turtles.
Dive two was a drift from Cleaner Station to South Boulder, Spotted Eagle Rays, Cuttlefish, Octopus, and another five turtles being the highlight of this dive.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Mike
