The Wash is one of the less publicised reefs Jetty Dive Centre calls on as a backup option when the main Solitary Islands sites are unreachable, sitting in deeper water than most of the group's shallower boulder and coral sites at 15-30 m. As the name might suggest of a site washed by current and swell, it tends to hold fish that prefer a bit of water movement over the more sheltered coral gardens found at the islands themselves. Kingfish and mulloway are the headline species reported here, using the reef structure to hold position in the current while feeding, alongside wobbegong sharks tucked into the ledges and a general covering of sponges and encrusting invertebrates typical of deeper NSW Mid North Coast reef.

Because it functions mainly as a fallback rather than a destination site, detailed published description is limited, and much of what is known comes from operator experience rather than a dedicated site guide. Given its greater depth and the current it is named for, The Wash suits Advanced Open Water divers more comfortably than the shallower training-friendly sites at Split Solitary Island, and it is generally only run on days when swell allows a deeper site to be dived safely. For divers who have already covered the main island sites and want to see a different, current-swept style of reef, The Wash is a reasonable if lightly documented option, best requested directly with the dive centre rather than assumed to be on the day's schedule, since it competes for boat time with the far better documented South Solitary Island grounds whenever those are runnable.

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. These local reefs are all within a short run of the harbour and are used as backup sites when weather rules out a trip to the islands proper.

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. These inshore reefs are the fallback when even Split Solitary Island is unworkable, so they are typically dived only a handful of times a year.

Descend to the reef top around 15 m, work the ledges checking for kingfish and mulloway holding on the structure, and ascend by the reef edge.

Jetty Dive Centre uses these reefs as close-in backup sites on days too rough to reach the Solitary Islands.