Visibility Report
The Visibility at South Solitary was an overcast 15m, if the sun had been out it would easily have been 20m.
Water Temperature
Water temp is still holding at 24C, a couple of cooler spots that dropped down to 23C.
Sea Conditions
A 15-20kn SSW picked up during the morning and a 1.5m NE swell. A bit of current running North at .5kn.
What we saw out there today!
We spent the first dive around Shark Gutters and Cleaner Station, only a couple of Grey Nurse on this dive, but quite a few big Kingfish buzzing around. Lots of schooling Bullseyes at Cleaner Station and near North Boulder Wall. A playful Octopus that tried to wrap his tentacles around my finger and lots of Morays nearly out of their hidey holes. A few Black Cod and schooling Bream finished off the dive.
The second dive was a drift dive from Cleaner Station to Manta Arch, Six Grey Nurse in the Gutter leading to the Arch and six Octopus, another ten Grey Nurse at the Arch itself and another four Octopus. Could be that the overcast day and darker dive conditions has brought the Octopus out and about. Barney the big Loggerhead tagged alongside the divers in the shallows at Manta Arch, stopping for a snack every now and then. A hufting great Spanish Dancer at Cleaner Station and a Sculptured Frogfish.
Over the last two days we have been seeing a large amount of Octopus and Moray Eels, should soon be seeing Manta Rays with the warmer water and maybe a Leopard Shark or two!!