Meet the site
Cod Rock sits on the south-eastern side of Split Solitary Island, on the opposite side of the island from the dramatic natural cleft — the 'split' — that gives the island its name, and is one of the more distinctive individual bommie dives in the group. The bommie itself is separated from the fringing plateau by a gutter around 18 m deep, rising up to a peak near 14 m before dropping away again to about 21 m on its outer face, giving the site real vertical relief for a relatively compact structure. The site's headline resident is a large black cod, reported at around two metres long, that has made this bommie its home and is generally reliably found lurking under one of the overhangs on the structure — a genuine big-fish encounter at a depth well within Open Water range, which is part of what makes Cod Rock a popular request among Jetty Dive Centre's regular customers. Blue devil fish shelter under the same overhangs, adding a splash of striking colour to the site, and a second, smaller bommie nearby holds red morwong and other resident reef fish for those wanting to extend the dive beyond the main structure. Because the site is built around a single, fairly compact bommie rather than a long stretch of reef, Cod Rock rewards divers who take their time circling the structure at different depths rather than swimming past it quickly, and its slightly greater depth range compared with the shallower Split Solitary Island moorings puts it a notch up in recommended experience level. On a good visibility day, this is one of the most satisfying single-feature dives in the whole marine park.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Split Solitary Island – Cod Rock is recorded as Pinnacle/Bommie 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.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
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 Split Solitary Island – Cod Rock 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 Split Solitary Island – Cod Rock 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
Large resident black cod (~2 m), blue devil fish, red morwong, bullseyes, general reef fish
Location
South-east side of Split Solitary Island, opposite the 'split' that gives the island its name; a bommie separated from the fringing plateau by an 18 m gutter, rising to about 14 m and dropping away to 21 m, home to a resident giant black cod.
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 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.