Meet the site
The Aquarium, as regular visitors to North Solitary Island have taken to calling this patch of sheltered reef near Anemone Bay, does not have any single headline feature the way Elbow Cave has its anemone beds or the Boulders has its giant groper and canyon-scale topography — its appeal is simply the extraordinary overall density and diversity of resident reef fish packed into a shallow, easy 8 to 18 m of water. As at the rest of the southern section of North Solitary Island, the site sits in the lee of the island, giving it good shelter and consistently excellent visibility given the distance from any mainland river outflow. Schooling bullseyes, sweep and various wrasse and damselfish species crowd the reef in numbers that repeat visitors describe as genuinely aquarium-like, moving in dense, swirling masses around the coral and rock structure rather than the more scattered distribution typical of many reef sites. Turtles, wobbegong sharks and moray eels round out the site's resident cast, and the shallow average depth allows for long, unhurried dives well beyond the 30-40 minutes typical of the deeper Pimpernel Rock or Boulders sites elsewhere on this trip. Because this is very much a supplementary rather than headline site, it is typically worked into a broader day of North Solitary Island diving alongside Anemone Bay and Fish Soup, filling the role of an easy, colourful, low-stress dive to round out a demanding day. For photographers and less experienced divers on a North Solitary Island trip, it offers one of the most reliably enjoyable, unhurried experiences of the whole excursion, without needing any particular skill or experience beyond basic Open Water competence.
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 – The Aquarium 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 – The Aquarium suitable for my certification?
The record lists 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 – The Aquarium 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
Dense schools of bullseyes and sweep, wrasse and damselfish species, turtles, wobbegongs, moray eels
Location
A sheltered, fish-dense patch of reef on North Solitary Island near Anemone Bay, valued for the sheer density and variety of resident reef fish rather than any single headline species.
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 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.