Meet the site
South Boulder Wall is the southern counterpart to North Boulder Wall, sitting a short distance along the same sheltered, north-western face of South Solitary Island and sharing essentially the same gentle topography: a shallow platform around 10-12 m spilling over into a boulder-strewn slope that bottoms out near 18 m. Having two moorings along one continuous wall gives Jetty Dive Centre flexibility to spread boat traffic on a busy day, or to run a single longer drift dive covering both sites when conditions and diver experience allow. Fish life here mirrors North Boulder Wall closely — divers who have described the site simply note there being more fish than you can readily take in on a single dive, from schools of silver trevally and tarwhine to resident red morwong, snapper and the crayfish that shelter throughout the boulder field. Giant cuttlefish move onto the reef seasonally, and turtles are a near-certain sighting given how much of this face of the island they use for resting and grazing. Because the wall faces away from the prevailing swell direction, this is one of the sites least likely to be cancelled by weather, which makes it valuable both as a training and check-out site and as a reliable closer to a day built around the more exposed, current-affected moorings elsewhere on the island. There is little to meaningfully distinguish South Boulder Wall from its northern neighbour beyond its slightly different position along the same wall, and most operators treat the pair as interchangeable options depending on which mooring is free or which direction suits the day's boat traffic and current. For a diver's purposes, expect the same easy depths, sheltered conditions and dense, colourful reef-fish population found at North Boulder Wall.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
South Solitary Island – South Boulder Wall is recorded as Wall 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 South Solitary Island – South Boulder Wall 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 South Solitary Island – South Boulder Wall 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
Silver trevally, tarwhine, red morwong, snapper, crayfish, giant cuttlefish (winter), turtles
Location
A second mooring on the same lee-side wall as North Boulder Wall, on the southern portion of the same rock face; boulders cascade from 10-12 m down to about 18 m.
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.