North West Solitary Island, a modest 20 km run north-east of Coffs Harbour, is the northernmost of the group's islands that Jetty Dive Centre visits with any regularity, and it offers a noticeably different character to South Solitary Island despite belonging to the same marine park. The water here runs slightly cooler and visibility is typically lower than at South Solitary, both a function of the island's position closer to the coast and the mainland's outflow, but the trade-off is genuinely excellent, extensive plate-coral coverage across the site's gutters and ridges. Three moorings are maintained on the western side of the island, chosen specifically because that aspect gives shelter on days with an easterly-style wind, and each sits over gently sloping coral gardens in 10-18 m interspersed with narrow gutters that concentrate fish life.

The headline attraction through the warmer months, roughly November to April, is a good chance of manta rays cruising the coral gardens to feed — 'at the warmer time of the year, manta rays are what we come for,' as local operators put it — while winter brings grey nurse sharks moving onto the site in a similar pattern to the rest of the marine park, along with the macro life typical of a plate-coral habitat: nudibranchs, egg cowries and a wide range of small reef fish. North West Solitary is not as consistently spectacular for big fish life as South Solitary Island, and the lower visibility here means it will not be everyone's first choice, but the sheer extent and health of the coral gardens make it a worthwhile change of pace, and the island's position gives Jetty Dive Centre a workable alternative on days when wind direction rules out the more exposed grounds further south. Navigation can be a little more challenging here than at the better-marked South Solitary Island sites, given the lower visibility and less distinct topography, so divers should stay close to their guide.

Jetty Dive Centre departs from the public floating pontoon wharf in Coffs Harbour boat harbour, opposite the Attitude Burgers building (check in at 398 Harbour Drive). Private boats use the public ramp inside the harbour breakwall. North West Solitary Island lies about 20 km north-east of Coffs Harbour, roughly 50 minutes by RIB.

Conditions off Coffs Harbour depend heavily on which island is being run: North West Solitary and Split Solitary sit closer inshore and are usable in more marginal weather, while South Solitary and any northern sites need a bigger settled window. Visibility across the group is generally 8-25 m and best away from river influence; the Coffs, Bellinger, Nambucca and Clarence systems all periodically dirty inshore water for a few days after heavy rain. Summer (Nov-Apr) is warmest with tropical vagrants and mantas; winter (May-Oct) is cooler with grey nurse sharks and giant cuttlefish.

Humpback whales pass April-November.

Choose one of the three western moorings depending on wind direction (they are positioned to suit an easterly-style wind), descend onto the coral gardens at 10-12 m, work the gutters looking for manta rays passing overhead in summer, and shallow up over the coral for the ascent.

Jetty Dive Centre runs North West Solitary Island as an alternative to South Solitary Island, particularly in summer for manta rays.