Dive Reports – September 2017
Take a look at our dive reports from September 2017! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in September 2017.
Dive Reports September 2017 – Table of Contents
2ND SEPTEMBER 2017 – CLEAR BLUE WATER AT SOUTH SOLITARY ISLAND!
It was yet another beautiful day in paradise out at South Solitary Island. With the sun shinning and some clear blue water, divers first dropped down to see over a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks around the back gutter of Manta Arch mooring, then swimming around to Cleaner Station where we saw our friendly little Clown Trigger Fish, Blue Groupers, Black Cod and loads of schooling fish. Second dive was another leisurely swim around Shark Gutters and South Boulder. Again, marine life was in abundance, seeing our resident Orangutan Crab, Spanish Dancer, Nudibranchs, Wobbys, Bullray and many more.
Congratultions Juliane in completing her PADI Open Water Course and Chris, for completing his PADI Advanced Open Water Course and also Enriched Air, well done!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-20°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Andy
3rd September 2017 – Clear Blue Water on the Coffs Coast!
Split Solitary was today’s island of choice. Despite the slight breeze from the north west, mikes mooring offered our divers protection and produced a couple of great blue water dives. Split offered an abundance of marine life, including Crayfish, Turtles, whales singing in the distance, wobbygongs, nudibranchs, Moray Eels, Coral Trout, Blue Groupers, Bullseye schools, and many more schools of fish.
Congratulations A-J and Braiden, in completing their PADI Open Water Diver Course, and Corey and Laura in completing the PADI Advanced Open Water Course. Well done!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 20°C
- Visibility: 20m
Dive Report by Andy
7th September 2017 – Afternoon dives at South Solitary Island!
Due to some strong winds this morning we decided to wait to dive when the sea settled, and it did, so we headed on out to South Solitary Island for a couple of afternoon dives. Divers swam around Cleaner Station, Shark Gutters and South Boulder, seeing loads of fish including a seal on the surface, too many turtles to count, Blue Groupers, Black Cod, Nudis, Wobbys, a baby Cuttlefish, Crayfish, Lionfish, and plenty of schooling fish.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-20°C
- Visibility: 10m
Dive Report by Andy
15th September 2017 – Fishy Friday!
After yesterday’s strong winds, we were all surprised with this mornings calm and sunny conditions out at sea, and South Solitary Island was amazing! Dive one was a casual swim around Cleaner Station, then followed by a swim from Shark to South Boulder on the second dive. Divers encountered a few Grey Nurse Sharks, Turtles, Lionfish, Blue Groupers, Black Cod, a Bubblesnail, Nudibranchs, Moray Eels and masses of schooling fish.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 8m-10m
Dive Report by Andy
16th September 2017 – Saturday Smiles!
Divers had a blast on today’s trip to South Solitary Island. Manta Arch and Cleaner Station were the first pick of the dives, then followed by a drift from Cleaner Station to South Boulder Wall. Over half a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks were hanging around the Arch, also Bull Rays, Eagle Rays, Wobbygongs, Nudibranchs, Bubbleshell, Juvenile Clown Trigger Fish, Black Cod, Blue Grouper, Moray Eels, Turtles, Lionfish, and masses of schooling fish.
Congratulations Veronica and Phoebe in completing their PADI Open Water Course, well done.
Visibility 25m Temperature 19-20c
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C-20°C
- Visibility: 25m
Dive Report by Andy
23rd September 2017 – Divers listen to Whale Song!
Full of excited divers, our boat “2 Wild” took us to South Solitary Island for two great dives today! Dive one from Manta Arch to the Gantry ticked all of the boxes. Grey Nurse Sharks, Turtles, Lionfish, an Octopus and two small Cuttlefish were just some of the highlights on this dive. Dive two was a leisurely swim from Shark Gutters to the Gantry. While listening to the Humpback Whales Sing, our divers spotted more Grey Nurse, Black Cod, Schooling Tarwhine and so much more!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 5m-10m
Dive Report by Andy
26th September 2017 – Divers get close to Grey Nurse Sharks!
Divers and Snorkelers had a couple of memorable dives out at South Solitary Island today. Forecasted conditions made for a bit of a challenge, though all divers handled the chop very well. Due to what looked like an algae blooom, visibility varied quite drastically from site to site, though all divers experienced very close encounters of Grey Nurse Sharks, Wobbygongs, Blue Groupers, Black Cod, Nudibranchs, Spanish dancers, A fever of Cow Nose Rays, School of Barracudas and masses of Schooling fish darting in and out of the bloom.
Congratulations Simon in completing the PADI Open Water Course and, Mark and mirijam in completing the PADI Discover Scuba Diver.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C-20°C
- Visibility: Brown and occasionally blue
Dive Report by Andy
29th September 2017 – Friday Dive Day!
South Solitary Island was a pleasant surprise for our divers today. Conditions had improved since our last visit, as divers encountered over half a dozen Grey Nurse Sharks, Spanish Dancers, Baby Cuttlefish, Blue angelfish, Blue Groupers, Nudibranchs, Black Cod, Juvenile Clown Trigger Fish, Moray Eel and plenty of schooling fish. Manta Arch, Cleaner Station, Shark Gutter, and South Boulder were sites visited today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Andy
30th September 2017-Flat seas making for a smooth trip
A great day for boating today, as the Dive trip cruised out, the Whale Swimmers were in the water hoping some Humpbacks would swim their way. All on some very flat calm seas.
Visibility was a bit disappointing for both trips as a whale rose near the snorkelers and was not seen underwater, the scuba divers were faced with a limited 5 mtrs in spots. Despite the vis, the divers were impressed with close encounters of Grey Nurse Sharks and fish galore. Highlights were also Big Bullrays at Manta Arch, Lionfish, Blue Angelfish, and a big school of Kingfish.
A move by the Whale swimmers to the south brought cleaner water and a report of cleaner water diving at South Solitary this afternoon gives promise for better tomorrow.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 5m-8m
Dive Report by Mike
