Meet the site
Muttonbird Gutter, on North Solitary Island, takes its name from the wedge-tailed shearwater — commonly called the muttonbird — colony that nests on the island above during the warmer months, a breeding population significant enough that parts of the island itself are closed to visitors during nesting season, much as Mutton Bird Island at Coffs Harbour is. Underwater, the gutter is a typical North Solitary Island feature: a channel through the broken reef in roughly 8 to 20 m, sitting within the same general area as Anemone Bay, Fish Soup and Elbow Cave. Marine life here follows the pattern of the rest of North Solitary Island's southern reef system: turtles move through regularly, wobbegong sharks and moray eels occupy the gutter walls, and the generally excellent visibility this far from the mainland — usually 15 to 25 m — makes for pleasant, unhurried exploration of the reef's crevices and overhangs. The gutter does not carry a singular headline feature in the way Elbow Cave's anemone beds or the Boulders' scale do, but it is a solid, reliable component of a broader day's diving around this section of the island. The connection to the muttonbird colony above gives the site an interesting ecological link between the surface and underwater worlds rarely made explicit at other Solitary Islands sites, and divers with an interest in seabirds may find the association adds a layer of context to what is otherwise a straightforward, pleasant gutter dive. As with the rest of North Solitary Island, reaching it requires the full 75-minute commitment from Wooli and a genuinely settled weather window.
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 – Muttonbird Gutter 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.
- 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 – Muttonbird Gutter 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 – Muttonbird Gutter 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
Turtles, wobbegongs, moray eels, general reef fish typical of North Solitary Island
Location
A gutter on North Solitary Island named for the muttonbird (wedge-tailed shearwater) colony nesting on the island above, part of the same broken reef system as Anemone Bay, Fish Soup and Elbow Cave.
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.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.