Meet the site
Fish Soup is a small but intensely productive point on North Solitary Island, named with typical local bluntness for the sheer density of fish that pack into one compact area here, drawn by the way the point channels current and creates a feeding and shelter zone in what is otherwise open, current-swept water. Wooli Dive Centre, the only operator with regular access to the site, is candid that it is not always diveable — the same current that makes the fish life so spectacular can also make the site unworkable on a given day — but rates it as well worth the wait when conditions line up. When the site is on, divers report an almost overwhelming concentration of fish in a small area: large schools of bullseyes, sweep and trevally pack into the lee of the point, kingfish and mulloway move through hunting the baitfish, and grey nurse sharks are seen here as they are elsewhere around North Solitary Island, using the current-swept structure in much the same way they use the gutters at South Solitary Island further south. Turtles pass through the area as well, and the general reef structure — rock ledges and low gutters in 8 to 22 m — supports typical resident species even when the current is too strong for the big schooling spectacle to be at its best. Because Fish Soup depends so heavily on getting the tide and current right, it is usually worked into a longer day at North Solitary Island alongside the more reliably diveable Anemone Bay, with the operator making a call on the day about which sites are workable. The site sits within the same 75-minute-each-way boat commitment from Wooli as the rest of North Solitary Island, and divers should be comfortable with moderate current and a negative or fast entry if conditions demand it, since Fish Soup's appeal is inseparable from the current that creates it.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
North Solitary Island – Fish Soup is recorded as Reef in Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands. The listed access is boat (day trip). Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is North Solitary Island – Fish Soup suitable for my certification?
The record lists Advanced Open Water. That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book North Solitary Island – Fish Soup through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Massive schools of bullseyes, sweep and trevally, kingfish, mulloway, grey nurse sharks, turtles
Location
A point on North Solitary Island where fish concentrate in remarkable numbers to feed and shelter from the current and swell, not always accessible but exceptional when conditions allow.
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
jettydive.com.aujettydive.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.