Dive Reports – November 2023
Take a look at our dive reports from November 2023! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in November 2023.
Dive Reports – Table of Contents:
2nd November 2023- Shark Galore
Divers had two super fantastic dives this morning out at South Solitary Island!!! We headed out with minimal wind and swell and had a nice end of week break.
One group of divers dropped in at Manta Arch to complete a deep dive and the rest of the group descended at Cleaner Station. There were heaps of sharks inside of Manta Gutter!!! At the bottom of the mooring, there was a Wobbegong Shark swimming around with a Sea Urchin stuck to his belly- he must have picked the wrong spot for a snooze! There were around 12-18 Grey Nurse Sharks swimming very close to divers, showing lots of curiosity. A couple of them had a good back scratch along the bottom. Around Cleaner, divers were taken back by the amount of Nudibranchs they were able to see in such a small space!
Still buzzing from the first dive, divers were keen to descend for their second.
Everyone descended at Cleaner Station again and moseyed their way down to South Boulder. On this dive, everything was happening!! Highlights of this dive were the tons of schooling fish, more Grey Nurse Sharks, Batfish around the mooring, Painted Crays, Green Sea Turtles, Bull Rays, massive Cod, and the Banded Coral Shrimp.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C – 21°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Teagan
3rd November 2023- Hammerheads and Barney return
Jetty Dive had a “feels like summer” day, busy with both both MegaWild and 2Wild heading out to sea to chase some good diving at South Solitary Island!
2Wild headed out this morning, taking a mix of students completing courses and a few regulars! For the first dive, everyone got in at Cleaner Station to explore the ins and outs of the gutters. For the second dive, everyone managed to jump in at Cleaner and drift their way down to The gantry. Luckily, THEY SAW HAMMERHEADS!!! There were two swimming outside of Cleaner Station heading towards Manta Arch, sitting in around 6 metres of water. Heaps of juvenile Grey Nurse Sharks were seen, some beautiful Nudibranchs, and the littlest baby Cuttlefish you ever did see!
Congratulations to Owen and Jorja for completing your PADI Open Water Diver Course!! And a big congratulations to David, Jenson, and Maddison for completing your Advanced Open Water Diver Course!!
Late morning, MegaWild steamed out to get their fins wet! Dropping in at Manta arch, the water was blue and inviting!! Divers saw HEAPS of Grey Nurse Sharks, around 30 of them!!!! You can tell all of those preganant mum’s have had their babies! Nudibranchs were also seem in abundance. Buzzing from the first dive and the underwater action, divers jumped in at Cleaner Station and headed to South Boulder. After a long and awaited time, Barney made her appearence again, reminding divers just how big and beautiful she is!! A few massive Bull Rays made their appearance up and down the wall as well.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Teagan
4th November 2023- School of Hammerheads!
A small group of divers headed out to South Sol this morning, stoked to get in the water for some epic diving!
The top end of the Island looked promising, so the entire group managed to drop in here and complete their first dive at Cleaner Station. This dive was awesome!!! A massive school of Hammerhead Sharks swam by our divers, in numbers big enough we couldn’t count!! Additionally, we saw heaps of Grey Nurse Sharks both big and small. A cheeky little Peacock Mantis Shrimp also came out of his hole near Shark Gutters, displaying his beautiful colours.
After sharing our experience and having morning tea, divers were excited to get back in for their second dive.
Everyone descneded at Shark Gutters and drifted down to the Gantry. More Grey Nurse Sharks were seen on this dive, loads of colourful Nudibranchs, and 6-7 Green Sea Turtles around 5 metre rock!! A massive Loggerhead also made an appearance, stealing the show.
Congratulations Nikita for completing your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C-21°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Teagan
5th November 2023 – Damp Conditions above and below
It was a little damp today for our trip to South Solitary Island.
Dive one had a few different groups getting in at Manta Arch, The Back Gutter and Cleaner Station to then all meet at The Gantry. There was plenty to see including Grey Nurse Sharks, Bullrays, schools of Sweep, Turtles and plenty of Nudibranchs.
Dive two we stayed at Shark Gutters and explored the top end. There was about 10-15 Grey Nurse out around the sanctuary marker, Octopus, Old Wifes, Nudibranchs, Moray Eels and some breif sightsing of the Hammerhead Sharks!!!
Congratulations to Shirley who finished her PADI Open Water Course Today
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Teagan
7th November 2023- Small group, big fun
2Wild packed up and headed out to South Solitary with a small boat and perfect surface conditions.
Getting in at the top end, we were welcomed with beautiful blue water and a Hammerhead Shark that swam by as we were descending. Some big Grey Nurse Sharks were seen swimming off the Boulder Wall. Loads of beautiful Nudibranchs and Spanish dancers filled Cleaner Station Gutter and a Spotted Eagle Ray was seen in the distance!!!!
We jumped in at Shark Gutters and had a nice drift down to the Gantry for our second dive. A lonesome Cownose Ray was seen swimming around the third gutter, some cute little Yellow Box Fish were hiding out in the wreckage of the Gantry, and a couple pretty big Green Sea Turtles were hanging out around the gap.
Congratulations Ulrike on completing your Open Water Diver Course!!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Teagan
10th November 2023 “Megawild” steams out to South Solitary Island.
Megawild steamed out to South Solitary island to get a couple of dives in this morning before the Northly winds kicked in. Both dives were conducted on the Western side of the island. Dive one had all divers drop in at Buchanans wall, marine life seen on this dive were Nudibranchs on the wall, Octopus, Green Turtles, Wobbegong Sharks, and Anemone fish in the shallows.
After morning tea Megawild moved up to the Gantry for dive two, divers drop in and made there way up to the gap. Loggerhead turtles, Yellow Box Fish, Black Cod, Lionfish, Bulls-eyes were all seen on this dive.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 10m
Dive Report by Stuart
11th November 2023- Good day for diving
MegaWild loaded up this sunny Saturday morning and headed out for a double dive at South Solitary.
With the wind coming from the North, divers were able to protect themselves by descending at Buchanan’s Wall for their first dive. Loads of Nudibranch’s up and down the wall made it a very colourful dive for everyone in the water. Green Sea Turtle’s and Pipefish were seen, as well as a few Black Cod hanging around.
After morning tea, divers drifted from Shark Gutters to the Gantry for the second dive of the day. Some Grey Nurse Sharks and big Bull Rays were seen around the Boulder Wall, a big Loggerhead turtle peaked out to say hello, an active Octopus was on the move, and a Yellow Box Fish was in the wreckage!
Congratualtions Adam and Jamika for completing your PADI OPEN WATER diver course today!!!!!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 10m
Dive Report by Teagan
16th November 2023 – Snorklers Get Amongst Hammers At South Solitary Island
Calm conditions made it a quick trip out to South Solitary island this morning for a bunch of excited snorkelers. On the way a out a couple of Humpback Whales were seen heading South on there way home. Snorkelers were dropped in at the Gantry for the first session marine life seen, Black cod, Green Turtles, Blue Fusiliers.
After morning tea snorkelers were dropped in on the Eastern side of the island making there way through the gap and finishing at the gantry. A couple of Hammerhead Sharks were seen, Turtles in the Gap, Bull-eyes, schooling fish and a Bull-Ray was seen.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Nathan
18th November 2023 Blue Water At South Solitary Island
“Megawild” steamed out this morning to South Solitary Island, on a arrival divers were greeted with blue water. The Northern end of the island was decided for both dives, getting protection from the Southey wind.
Dive one had all divers drop in on Shark Gutters, heaps of marine life was seen on this dive half a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks, Nudibranchs, Black Cod, schooling fish. Also seen on this dive was Barney our local Loggerhead turtle.
After morning tea Dive two was a drift dive from shark Gutters to to south Boulder, this dive was a “cracker” Bull-Rays, Grey nurse sharks, Moray Eels, Green Turtles, and schooling fish all down the wall.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Nathan
19th November 2023 – Sweet Sunday at South Solitary
Calm seas and sunny skies invited 2Wild out for a double dive at South Solitary Island this morning.
Divers dropped in at Shark Gutters in the beautiful blue water! Loads of fish were out and about in the gutters, getting brought in with the current. Half a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks were seen, a massive Green Sea Turtle in Cleaner Cave, and some huge Kingfish swam by us! Divers drifted down to South Boulder and were lucky enough to see 4 Spotted Eagle Ray’s feeding on the ocean floor!! It was magical!!!!
After a surface interval discussing everything we saw, it was time to drift from Shark Gutters to the Gantry for our second dive! There was lots to see on this dive. Loads of Green Sea Turtles were drifting down the wall with the current, a Bull Ray was having a snooze, a Yellow Box Fish was swimming through the wreckage, many different Eels were hiding throughout the rocks, Blue Tangs, Bluethroat Triggerfish, and schooling fish! Everything was happening today!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 21°C
- Visibility: 15m
Dive Report by Nathan
24th November 2023 – surprisingly sunny friday!
Despite the brooding conditions this morning 2Wild loaded up and steamed out to South Solitary for some awesome diving! We also had a second group from a dive centre join us on a trip on Mega Wild
First up on 2 wild, a group dropped in at Manta Arch, where on descent a school of 20-30 Hammerheads was found circling Manta Arch. All the while 9 large Grey Nurse Sharks were cruising in and around the arch, and on leaving the Arch we found an itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny yellow Painted Angler! Meanwhile the remainder of our divers dropped in at the Gantry, where they were fortunate enough to see some Green Turtles, Nudibranchs, and some Yellow Boxfish!
After the Surface interval our divers dropped in at Buchanans Wall, where more Nudibranchs, Banded Coral Shrimp, and Green Sea Turtles were sighted. Wobbegongs, a massive Black Cod and a large Octopus were also seen along the wall.
BONUS WHALE WATCH REPORT!!! On the way home a small pod of Minke Whales and Dolphins were seen feeding on a bait ball!
Congratulations to Anika on completing her Open Water Diver Course.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C-20°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Nathan
25th November 2023- Eagle ray glides with grey nurse
Mega wild packed up and headed out to South Solitary this morning for some good diving before some wind rolls through tomorrow.
Our first dive was a nice and cruisy dive, dropping in at Manta Arch and making our way through the gap to finish up at The Gantry. A dozen Grey Nurses were sitting in beautiful blue water in the Back Gutter. A painted Angler, tooons of Nudibranchs (including a Phillodesmium magnum!), a couple Yellow Box Fish, and a Loggerhead Turtle were some other highlights of our dive!
After our surface interval, divers were keen to get back in the water! Everyone dropped in at Cleaner Station and drifted their way down to the Gantry for the second dive. This was an extremely beautiful dive! As we made our way down the Boulder Wall, there were lots of Grey Nurses leading the way. Three MASSIVE Marbeled Rays were seen weaving their way through divers. Three beautiful Spotted Eagle Rays were seen gliding past South Boulder, a Peacock Mantis Shrimp, a Turet Fish, and both Green and Hawksbill Turtles were also seen!!!
Congratulations Rose for completing your PADI Deep Diver Speciality Course!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C-20°C
- Visibility: 10m-20m
Dive Report by Teagan
