Dive Reports – September 2022
Take a look at our dive reports from September 2022! We’ve detailed what we saw, the temperature and visibility, and surface conditions of the Solitary Islands in Coffs Harbour in September 2022.
Dive Reports September 2022 – Table of Contents:
10TH SEPTEMBER 2022 – GREEN SEA TURTLES GALORE
WE GOT OUT!!!
Finally, after a week and some crazy Coffs Coast weather we welcomed to calm seas on the way to South Solitary Island.
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall and there were thousands of fish right under the boat, The Wall had a few Turtles, Wobbegongs and some beautiful Blue Tangs.
Dive two was a drift from Shark Gutters down to The Gantry, the dive was epic!! We had loads to see including 6-8 Black Cod, Grey Nurse Sharks, Nudibranchs, Pufferfish, Kingfish and numerous turtles near the gap.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C
- Visibility: 8-10m
Dive Report by Lindsay
11TH SEPTEMBER 2022 – GLASSY SUNDAY SEA
The water was spectaculary flat today on the 11th of September 2022. 2Wild headed out with a small boat of eager divers to South Solitary Island for our double dive!
For the first dive, everyone jumped in the water at Manta Arch. Some divers saw two large Grey Nurses in the gutter near the arch. In the ledge in the arch there was a large wobbegong, and a Grey Nurse Shark swimming away as divers approached. There were a variety of nudibranches along the sides of the arch, along with schooling fish.
We finished up our tea and coffee from our surface interval and began to kit up for the second dive when a whale announced it’s presence with a big huff a couple of moorings away! This whale cruised away from us after surfacing again.
We jumped in for our second dive at Shark Gutters Mooring. There were numerous wobbegong sharks all around each of the gutters. We found lionfish, more nudibranches, green moon wrasse, old wives, and trumpetfish. There was one small green turtle relaxing near cleaner cave who was curious of bubbles and some wobbeys in the cave, along with many, MANY tiny pink nudibranches that looked like “Hopkins Rose Nudibranches!”. There was two large wobbeygongs eating a small wobbegong on the ocean floor and more big Grey Nurses towards the end of the dive, and Divemaster Rosie found metres and metres of fishing line with 4+ hooks attached to it around a rock which she removed from the sea. Good work Rosie!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 19°C
- Visibility: 5m-10m
Dive Report by Tara
17TH SEPTEMBER 2022 – GREY NURSE SHARKS IMPROVE DIVERS BUOYANCY
Everyone on 2Wild this morning was super keen to get out to South Solitary Island and blow some bubbles.
On the trip out we were very lucky to see 6-10 Humpback Whales splashing and jumping!!
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall, we had schools of fish around the mooring, Wobbegongs chilling on the sandy patches and 2-3 large Bull rays down the Wall.
Dive two was a drift from Shark Gutters down tom The Gantry. This dive was amazing with one of our instructors losing count at 35 Grey Nurse Sharks between Sharks
Gutter and Boulder Wall. This was making even our most experienced divers test how good their buoyancy was!!!
There was also schools of Trevally, Pomfreds, Bullseyes and 4-5 Turtles near the gap
Photo taken today at North Boulder
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C
- Visibility: 15m-20m
Dive Report by Lindsay
18TH SEPTEMBER 2022 – WARM AND SUNNY DAY FILLED WITH HEAPS OF SHARKS
It was a sunny and beautiful morning as our divers prepared for a dive at South Solitary Island. Conditions were perfect to explore the northern side of the island and our divers jumped in at Manta Arch for a drift to Cleaner Station. They were greeted by a few grey nurse sharks and some big friendly wobbegong along the way. Dive two was another drift from Cleaner Station to South Boulder and for the second day in a row a large congregation of grey nurse sharks were spending time along the boulder wall. Divers also enjoyed seeing turtles, trumpetfish, scorpionfish, and nudibranchs throughout the day.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C
- Visibility: 10m-15m
Dive Report by Maryanne
20TH SEPTEMBER 2022 – GREY NURSE GALORE
Shark Gutters at South Solitary Island lived up to its name today! Our divers were in awe of the number of grey nurse who were aggregating in the gutter. Turtles, black cod, morays, schooling goatfish and one very unfriendly girdled parma!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C
- Visibility: 10m
Dive Report by Andy
24TH SEPTEMBER 2022 – WARM SPRING WEATHER AND ALL THE FISH!
After a few days of grey skies and wild weather 2Wild took out a full dive boat this morning with excited divers. It was sunny and warm and conditions at Buchanan’s Wall were perfect for dive one. After some morning tea we decided to take a peak at the northern end of South Solitary. Conditions on the surface were a bit lumpy but the water looked great so everyone jumped in at Cleaner Station for a drift to The Gantry where calmer conditons awaited them. Highlights from today included bull rays, yellow trumpetfish, 20+ grey nurse sharks, eagle rays, 6+ green turtles, and lots of schooling fish.
Congratulations to Ethan and Jye for completing their PADI Open Water course today!
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C
- Visibility: 10m-12m
Dive Report by Maryanne
25TH SEPTEMBER 2022 – SHARK GUTTERS FOR THE WIN
We nearly had a glass out this morning for our trip out to South Solitary Island.
Dive one was at Shark Gutters and although the visibility had dropped a little the marine life underwater was amazing!!! Grey Nurse Sharks were in their numbers along with huge schools of Bullseyes, and Tarwhine.
Dive two was a short drift from Shark Gutters down to South Boulder. We still had lots of Grey Nurse to manoeuvre around down the wall but also got to see a Green Sea Turtle, Bullray, Black Cod and some Slipper Lobsters.
Congratulations to Paul and Levi who finished their PADI Open Water Course today.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C
- Visibility: 10m
Dive Report by Lindsay
28TH SEPTEMBER 2022 – CLEAR WATER ON THE BOTTOM
Mega Wild was kitted out to take divers to South Solitary Island this morning.
Dive one was at Buchanan’s Wall, the surface visibility did not look good but we were all thankful that we had 6-10m on the bottom.
Our divers were lucky to see Turtles, Bullrays, Wobbegongs and Lionfish.
Dive two was a swim from Buchanan’s Wall up to The Gantry. We had schools of Kingfish, Bullseyes, 2-3 Green Sea Turtles, Nudibranchs and a curious Eastern Blue Grouper at The Gantry
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 17°C
- Visibility: 6m-10m
Dive Report by Lindsay
29TH SEPTEMBER 2022 – STUDENTS CERTIFIED
We had Nine Open Water Students, two Advanced Open Water Students and the same two finishing their Enriched Air Specialty Course today.
We were limited to the northern end but both dives had some amazing marine life with loads of Grey Nurse Sharks, schools of Kingfish and Tarwhine, huge Wobbegongs, Flat worms, Nudibranchs and plenty of little, White-eyed Eels.
Congratulations Dan, Jack, Stephen, Renee, Paul, Ruby, Xavier, Russell and Elizabeth who completed their PADI Open Water Course
Congratulations to Sam and Rosie who finished their PADI Advanced Open Water and Enriched Air Specialty courses.
Conditions Report:
- Temperature: 18°C
- Visibility: 6m-12m
Dive Report by Lindsay
