Dive Reports – November 2015
Take a look at our dive reports from November 2015! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in November 2015.
Dive Reports November 2015 – Table of Contents
7TH NOVEMBER 2015 – GREAT TO BE DIVING AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND TODAY!
Another great day of diving at South Solitary Island today. Whilst Buchanan’s Wall was a haven for Eagle Rays and Turtles, the northern end of the island was buzzing with schooling Kingfish, BIG Black Cod and at least 20 Grey Nurse Sharks!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 10m-12m at Buchanan’s, 8m at top end.
Dive Report by Andy
10TH NOVEMBER 2015 – SHARK GUTTERS LIVES UP TO IT’S NAME
Dive 1 had Grey Nurse Sharks in the shallows of Shark Gutters along with Cleaner Station and Boulder Wall. Meanwhile out wider a glimpse of a couple Hammerheads and the squadron of Cow Rays also appeared for a short time. Visibility was about 15 meters in the shallows.
Dive 2 was the usual abundant fishlife of Boulder wall with a huge Bullray cruising around. Visibility was around 8 metres in the deeper depths which suited the Padi Advanced course Navigation Core Dive
Picture today shows how shallow the Grey Nurse are!
Conditions Report:
- Surface conditions were excellent!
- Visibility: 8m-15m
Dive Report by Mike
11TH NOVEMBER 2015 – HUMPDAY DIVING WITH JETTY DIVE
After a quick trip to the light on board “Wildfin”, our divers slipped in at Manta Arch and the Cleaner Station for their first dive of the day. Although the vis was a little basic, our divers had fantastic dives. Lots of Grey Nurse, Black Cod, Nudibranches and Lionfish were just some of the highlights.
Dive 2 was again at the northern end. More Grey Nurse, schooling Tarwhine, Wobbegong Sharks and a beautiful Blue Angelfish were spotted on this dive.
Congratulations to James for completing his PADI Open Water Course, Josh for becoming a PADI Adventure Diver and Sophie for completing her PADI Advanced Open Water Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 8m
Dive Report by Andy
16TH NOVEMBER 2015 – SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND, BUZZING WITH LIFE!
After a few days out of the water due to poor weather, we were all super excited to get back in for a dive at South Solitary Island today! The northern end of the island was buzzing with life! Grey Nurse Sharks, schooling Cow Nose Rays, Whaler Sharks, Lionfish, Black Cod and Barney the Loggerhead Turtle were just some of today’s highlights!
Vis 10m, temp 21c
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 10m
Dive Report by Andy
18TH NOVEMBER 2015 – CONGRATULATIONS TO NEWLY CERTIFIED OPEN WATER DIVERS
Woo Hoo! What a day of diving! Sheltered from the freshening northerly, Buchanan’s Wall at South Solitary Island was our first port of call. Lionfish, Black Cod, schooling Kingfish, and a large Green Turtle were all seen by our divers. Dive number two was spent exploring the wreckage of the Gantry. Moray Eels, Octopus, a lonely Grey Nurse and a Spanish Dancer were just some of the highlights.
Congratulations to Paul, Matt, James and Riley for completing their PADI Open Water Course today!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 10m
Dive Report by Andy
22ND NOVEMBER 2015 – TURTLES EVERYWHERE AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
Lots of amazing life seen today at South Solitary Island.
Dive one was an easy drift from Shark Gutters down to South Boulder with lots of Grey Nurse Sharks in the gutters and some big Kingfish hanging around mid water. There was a cool murky layer near the bottom so everyone was sticking a little higher where is was also warmer!!
Dive two was from Shark Gutters down to The Gantry, there was a few big Black Cod on the Wall and near the gap one group seen 12 Turtles and a beautiful Shovel Nose Ray cruising in the shallows.
Congratulations to Tahnee for finishing her PADI Open Water Course!! The next course for her is the PADI Advanced Open Water which we run quite regularly.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 8m-12m
Dive Report by Lindsay
23RD NOVEMBER 2015 – AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE TAKE THE PLUNGE
With “Wildfin” loaded with Australian Army Troops, we shot out to South Solitary Island for this mornings dives. Buchanan’s Wall was our first choice as there was a slight current up the top end. We saw lots of Basslets, a few Wobbygongs and plenty of Nudibranchs.
Dive two had us take advantage of the top end current and do a drift from Shark Gutters down to The Gantry, the divers saw about 7 Grey Nurse Sharks, Black Cod, Snapper and some amazing Moray Eels.
Congratulations to Fisher, Smithy, Muzza and Molesy from the 8/9 RAR in Brisbane, they all finished the PADI Open Water Diver Course today!!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 8m-10m
Dive Report by Andy
24TH NOVEMBER 2015 – GROUPER, THE PLACE TO BE FOR GREY NURSE!!
Today “Wildfin” cruised out to Southwest Solitary Island for our trip. both dives were at Coral Gardens mooring.
For the first dive, the open water course dived the gutters in the shallows and advanced course did their navigation dive further to the west. over the course of the dive over 11 grey nurse were seen, mostly in the gutters. There were also a number of assorted Headshield slugs, sea hares and Nudibranchs spotted.
With so many nurses around a site where they are rarely seen, over the surface interval the advanced course quickly decided to change their elective on the second dive from search and recovery to shark awareness!! with the open water course back in the water for the second dive, between all the groups, around 13 grey nurse were spotted, along with two MONSTER 6-7 foot long Wobbegongs and a massive school of Pomfreds, enough to make the sky seem yellow from below!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-21°C
- Visibility: 5m-10m
Dive Report by Andy
26TH NOVEMBER 2015 – PLENTY TO SEE AT SPLIT SOLITARY ISLAND!
Hiding from the northerly breeze, Split Solitary Island was our pick for today’s dives. Our divers spotted a Grey Nurse Shark which was a pleasant surprise as these guys are not commonly seen at this Island. Today’s other highlights included a sleepy Green Turtle, Lionfish, Crested Horn Shark, some big Wobbegongs and a variety of beautiful Nudibranches.
Vis 8m, temp 19c.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19
- Visibility: 8m
Dive Report by Andy
27TH NOVEMBER 2015 – AUSSIE SOLDIERS NOW OPEN WATER DIVERS!
A select group of Soldiers from the Australian Army’s 8/9th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment took the week off from their normal duties to complete the PADI Open Water Diver Course. Today was their final day of training which included 2 dives at Muttonbird Island. Though the visibility was a little basic a lot of marine life was seen, including a crested horn shark, a bull ray, a dwarf lionfish and the extent of Montipora and Stylophora coral growth at Muttonbird was a surprise to even the instructors!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 4m-8m
Dive Report by Andy
28TH NOVEMBER 2015 – GROUPER AT GROPER!
After a bumpy ride out to South Solitary Island, we slipped in at Buchanan’s Wall for our first dive of the day. Descending down the mooring, our divers spotted “Barney” the Loggerhead Turtle swimming with another Loggerhead, maybe she has found true love.
Searching for calmer seas, we decided to head to Groper Island for dive 2. Lots to see including a Grey Nurse Shark, Hawkesbill Turtle and to our surprise a massive Queensland Groper!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
