Dive Reports – November 2016
Take a look at our dive reports from November 2016! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in November 2016.
Dive Reports November 2016 – Table of Contents:
1ST NOVEMBER 2016 – NOVEMBER IS HERE!
We had a great couple of dives to start the month off and as usual, South Solitary Island didn’t let us down. Seeing a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks around Shark Gutters and Cleaner Station, also Eagle rays, Bull Rays, Slipper Crays, Spanish Dancers, Turtles, Gropers, Black Cods, Lionfish, Wobbys, Nudis and too many little critters to count.
Picture was taken today of a curious Slipper Lobster.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 8m
Dive Report by Lindsay
2ND NOVEMBER 2016 – HAPPY HUMP DAY!
It was another great couple of dives at South Solitary Island. Still plenty of Grey Nurse Sharks around Cleaner Station and Shark Gutters, also seeing Bull rays, Eagle rays, Moray Eels, Turtles, Nudis, Wobbys, Schooling fish, Cods, Gropers and a rare Orangutan Crab.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 10m
Dive Report by Lindsay
3RD NOVEMBER 2016 – MACRO DIVING!
It was a day for the little guys today. Our first point of entry was the Gantry, where our Scientific divers in training surveyed the bottom, seeing many Nudis, Bubble shells, also a lone Grey Nurse Shark, wobbys, Moray Eels and a Turtle. Due to the current at South Solitary, we decided to go to Split Solitary for our second dive. Again, heaps of little critters including some Coral Shrimp, Crayfish, Nudis, Schooling fish, Gropers and a Bull Ray.
Vis 5m
Temp 20c
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 5m
Dive Report by Lindsay
5TH NOVEMBER 2016 – HOT DAY FOR DIVING THE SOLITARY ISLANDS!
Split Solitary Island was the flavour of today’s dives. Although the vis was a little basic, it didn’t deter our avid divers from getting amongst the action. Turtle Cove and Mike’s Mooring dive sites were both bustling with Nudibranches, Wobbegongs, Slipper Crays, Lionfish and a single Grey Nurse Shark.
We would also like to wish Happy Birthday to Sharnee!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 5m
Dive Report by Lindsay
6TH NOVEMBER 2016 – SCUBA SUNDAY!
Improved conditions made it a speedy trip out to South Solitary Island. The low vis brought our curious Grey Nurse friends nice and close to our divers, also seeing Bull Rays, Black Cods, schooling Tarwhine, Nudis, Flat Worm, Turtles, a Frog Fish and our little Orangutan Crab all rugged up in his winter fur. Both dives were around Cleaner and South Boulder.
Congratulations Kate for completing her Open Water Course.
Vis – needs improvement
Temp – 20c
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: Needs improvement
Dive Report by Lindsay
10TH NOVEMBER 2016 – MONSTER BLACK COD AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND
We all jumped on 2 Wild this morning and made our way out to the lighthouse fingers crossed for clear water, although the visibility was not flash when we arrived, both dives had lots to see including Wobbygongs, Blue lipped Anemones, Lionfish, Blue Groper, Grey Nurse Sharks, some huge Black Cod up near Cleaner Station cave and 5 turtles seen both on the surface and below water.
Good way to spend a Thursday morning.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 4m-6m
Dive Report by Lindsay
11TH NOVEMBER 2016 – IMPROVING VISIBILITY AT THE SOLITARY ISLANDS!
The ocean this morning was beautiful and flat which made the trip out to South Solitary Island easy, We even had some breaching from some playful Humpback Whales on the way out!!
After the company of some dolphins riding the bow we got to the northern end of South Solitary Island for our 2 dives.
The visibility had improved a lot from the last couple of trips out and the marine life was still in abundance.
Our divers seen lots including Wobbygongs, Sweet lips, Slipper Lobsters, Popcorn Shrimp, Nudibranchs everywhere, one lone Grey Nurse Shark and our now resident Orangutan Crab in Shark Gutters.
Congratulations to Sarah who completed her Peak Performance Buoyancy Course today and we would like to welcome Kate snd Andy to the Jetty Dive team, Andy has started his PADI Dive Master Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 10m
Dive Report by Lindsay
16TH NOVEMBER 2016 – 22C WATER TEMPERATURE AND 20M VISIBILITY
We struck great diving conditions at South Solitary Island today as the visibility had improved and the water temp was a beautiful 22C. There was plenty to see at the northern end of the island, including 8-10 Grey Nurse Sharks at Manta Arch and a little yellow Boxfish.
Dive two was around Cleaner Station and Shark Gutters, only one Grey Nurse Shark, but plenty of Black Cod, Tarwhine, our local Orangutan Crab and a very rare Ornate Ghost Pipefish which Andrew spotted by the mooring line.
Photo was not from today as this Pipe fish was on it’s lonesome.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 18m-20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
17TH NOVEMBER 2016 – BIRTHDAY DIVES!
The big Blue didn’t disappoint today, as the slight chop on the surface soon faded away as we descended down Shark Gutters for both dives and finished at Cleaner Station. Visibility faded in and out as we moved between moorings though still warm and blue. Along the way we spotted Grey Nurse Sharks, Wobbys, Nudis, Gropers, Black Cods, Bull Rays, Turtles, Abbott’s Eels, Moray Eels, Schooling Fish, Crayfish, Slipper Crays and our furry Orangutan Crab.
Happy Birthday to Brad, as he and annaliese completed his very first ocean dive as a PADI Discover Diver.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
18TH NOVEMBER 2016 – SNORKELLING WITH HAMMERHEADS!
Divers and Snorkelers explored the Solitary Islands on this mornings charter, with one group of snorkelers lucky enough to see a school of 10 Hammerhead Sharks. Grey Nurse, Black Cod, Turtles and a couple of big Wobbegongs were also some of the highlights.
Sheltering from the northerly wind, we moved to Split Solitary Island for today’s 2nd dive. More Wobbegongs, lots of Nudibranches, Lionfish and two friendly Cuttlefish were spotted by our divers.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
19TH NOVEMBER 2016 – SOLITARY ISLANDS DIVING IS HEATING UP!
Sheltering from the northerly wind, we tucked in behind Split Solitary Island for two very pleasant dives today.
Dive one was at Turtle Cove. Schools of Pomfrets, Morwong, Damsels and even a Grey Nurse were spotted navigating across the hard and soft corals on this dive.
Mike’s Mooring was our second port of call. Loads of Nudibranches, a curious Cuttlefish and Slipper Lobster were just some of the highlights.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 22°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
20TH NOVEMBER 2016 – CALLUM BECOMES A INSTRUCTOR!
When the dives couldn’t get any better, one of our divemasters also just passed all his PADI Instructor Exeminations and can now call himself a Open water Scuba Diver Instructor. Welcome to Instructor hood, we are very proud!
We took out the old girl (Wild Fin) to South Solitary Island for some warm blue water dives. We first explored Manta Arch, seeing many Grey Nurse Sharks, a Frog Fish, Black Cod, Gropers, and then finished at Cleaner Station with a Lionfish, plenty of Schooling Fish and loads of Nudis. The second dive was a drift from Shark Gutters to The Gantry, where we saw a group of juvenile Grey Nurse Sharks hanging in the gutter, also Wobbys, Turtles, a Mantis Shrimp, Orangutan Crab, more Nudis and loads of anemone fish.
Congratulations Ruby, Dea, Brendan and Shaun in completing their Open Water Diver Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C-22°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Andy
23RD NOVEMBER 2016 – A DAY TO EXPLORE THE SOLITARY ISLANDS!
Divers explored South Solitary and Split Solitary Island today. We first rolled into Buchanans Wall, seeing a Lionfish, Nudis, Moray Eels, Bull Ray, Barnie the Loggerhead Turtle and loads of Schooling Fish. Then after a short cruise to Split Solitary our divers jumped into Turtle Cove for some macro diving, seeing a big Sea Snail, Coral Shrimp, Lionfish, Nudis, Wobbys, Blue Gropers and loads of Anemone Fish.
Featured Image of today’s Lionfish at Buchanans Wall.
Vis 8-10m
Temp 19-21c
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-21°C
- Visibility: 8m-10m
Dive Report by Andy
26TH NOVEMBER 2016 – GET YOUR DIVE ON!
Beyond the milky water South Solitary Island was full of life, from Grey Nurse Sharks to Turtles, Nudibranchs, Black Cods, Wobbygongs,Gropers, Schooling Fish, Eels, Orangutan Crab and many more sea critters. First stop was Cleaner Station, then moving from Cleaner to South Boulder for the second descend.
Vis 8m
Temp 20c
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 8m
Dive Report by Andy
27TH NOVEMBER 2016 – TWO ISLANDS IN TWO DIVES!
Sheltered at Buchanans Wall, our divers dropped down for some close encounters with Barnie the Loggerhead Turtle, also more Turtles, Lionfish, Nudibranchs, Wobbygongs, Gropers, Moray Eel, Schooling Fish and many more. After the surface interval we decided to change Islands and head from South Solitary to Split Solitary Island, entering at Mike’s Mooring, seeing baby Cuttlefish, Plenty of Nudis, Coral Shrimp, Crayfish and all the little critters within the coral.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 8m
Dive Report by Andy
30TH NOVEMBER 2016 – WEDNESDAY SPECIALS!
Divers had a jolly old time Under the sea today. The northern end of South Solitary was the pick of the day, jumping into Shark Gutters for some Grey Nurse Shark action, also a little Hawksbill Turtle, a Loggerhead Turtle, Wobbys, Nudis, huge groups of Schooling Fish, Black Cods, Eastern Blue Devil, Orangutang Crab, Bull Rays, Eagle Rays and Lionfish. The second dive was a slight drift from South Boulder Wall, seeing Crayfish, more sharks, another close encounter with Barnie the Loggerhead, Blue gropers and so much more.
Congratulations Charlotte in completing her PADI Open Water Diver Course and Joanne for Completing a Shark Awareness Specialty Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Andy
