Meet the site
North Boulder Wall sits on the lee, north-western side of South Solitary Island, and because it faces away from the prevailing easterly and south-easterly swell that affects the more exposed Manta Arch and Shark Gutters, it is one of the most consistently diveable sites in the group and a favourite second or third dive on a day when the outer moorings have already been visited. The wall is not a sheer drop-off in the classic sense but a broad, boulder-strewn platform at 8-12 m that spills over its edge in a cascade of large rocks down to a comfortable maximum of about 18 m. The boulders themselves are richly colonised and support an unusually high density of resident reef fish for a site this shallow: crayfish shelter in the crevices, blue tang, silver trevally, goatfish, tarwhine, red morwong and snapper move through in numbers, and giant cuttlefish are a highlight through the cooler months when they move onto the shallower reef to breed. Turtles use the wall as a resting and feeding ground, grazing on the algae covering the rock, and the general fish density here rivals the more current-affected sites without the same exposure risk. Because of its gentle depth range and sheltered aspect, North Boulder Wall is regularly used for less experienced divers and as a relaxed, colourful dive to pair with a more demanding morning dive at Manta Arch or Shark Gutters. It also links directly with South Boulder Wall a short distance along the same face of the island, giving operators the option of a longer drift along the full length of the wall on days with a little current. For visitors wanting an easy, reliably good dive at South Solitary Island regardless of conditions elsewhere in the park, this is usually the site Jetty Dive Centre falls back on.
What you might see
Crayfish, blue tang, silver trevally, goatfish, tarwhine, red morwong, snapper, giant cuttlefish (winter), turtles
Location
North-western corner of South Solitary Island; a platform at 8-12 m where large boulders litter the top and cascade over the wall edge to about 18 m, one of the more sheltered, beginner-friendly sites in the group.
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.audivernet.comjettydive.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.