Species List: 23-09-2017, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld

12 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 23-09-2017.

A single shore entry dive by Gary and Elisha of 140 minutes. Maximum depth 6.5 m, 22 C water temperature and up to 8 m viz.

The water temp is now at 22C and hopefully more species will start appearing in the river. Goniobranchus sp. 6 is one of those that disappeared during winter and has made an appearance once more. The highlight was a 50 mm Dendrodoris denisoni without a front end or rhinophores. The animal looked healthy and was making way over the sand quite nicely.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Cratena lineata -5
Cratena sp. 2 -1
Dendrodoris denisoni -1
Eubranchus sp. 10 -1
Facelina bourailli -1
Flabellina rubrolineata -4
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus -1
Goniobranchus daphne -14
Goniobranchus sp. 6 -1
* Goniodoridella sp. 1 -15
Gymnodoris sp. 10 -1
Hypselodoris obscura -5

Entry point

Hypselodoris obscura

Facelina bourailli

Cratena sp. 2

Eubranchus sp. 10

Flabellina rubrolineata

The substrate

Elisha posing

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Dendrodoris denisoni

Dendrodoris denisoni

Goniobranchus daphne

Cratena lineata

The substrate

Flabellina rubrolineata

Goniobranchus daphne 

Cratena lineata

Gymnodoris sp. 10

Goniobranchus sp. 6

Goniobranchus aureopurpureus

Species List: 19-09-2017, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld

13 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 19-09-2017.

A single shore entry dive by Gary, Elliot and two friends of 119 minutes. Maximum depth 6.4 m, 21 C water temperature and up to 8 m viz.

The poor showing of the once common Flabellina rubrolineata and Tenellia sibogae is evident of a food source that is disappearing. The little Goniodoridella sp. 1 is still the common nudibranch. The first part of the dive tested us in a ripping current but it sibsided and the count began to rise.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Bulbaeolidia alba -2
Cratena sp. 2 -1  New Record for the River
Flabellina angelvaldesi -1
Flabellina rubrolineata -1
Goniobranchus daphne -1
Goniodoridella savignyi -2
* Goniodoridella sp. 1 -13
Gymnodoris sp. 9 -1
Gymnodoris sp. 10 -1
Gymnodoris sp. 17 -1
Hypselodoris obscura -6
Pteraeolidia semperi -2
Tenellia sibogae -1

Entry point and rapids

Elliot and friends

Tenellia sibogae

Tenellia sibogae

Flabellina angelvaldesi

Gymnodoris sp. 10

Cratena sp. 2 -1  New Record for the River

Gymnodoris sp. 9

Flabellina rubrolineata

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Cruising for the next Branch

Substrate

Goniodoridella savignyi

Pteraeolidia semperi

Gymnodoris sp. 17

Substrate

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Bulbaeolidia alba

Hypselodoris obscura

Bulbaeolidia alba

Bulbaeolidia alba with deflated rhinophores

Bulbaeolidia alba

Hypselodoris obscura

Pteraeolidia semperi

Hypselodoris obscura

Goniobranchus daphne

Goniodoridella savignyi

Species List: 16-09-2017, Terry’s Delight, Arkwright Shoals, off Point Arkwright, Yaroomba, Sunshine Coast, Qld.

28 species sighted at Terry’s Delight, Arkwright Shoals, off Point Arkwright, Yaroomba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 16-09-2017.

Gary and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 82 minute and 1 x 76 minute dives in water depths from 13 m to 16 m. 12 m viz, 21 C water temp and no surge.

From the forecasts, Saturday seemed the most promising for good diving conditions. The chosen site was already taken by a boatload of spearos (everyone being on the water with such calm conditions) so we backtracked to Terry’s Delight. The pick landed on the flat terrain to the east of our normal spot so we took the opportunity to explore that a little before heading west and up onto the plateaus and crevasses we know so well. Finds of note include Oxynoe viridis in the Caulerpa and Verconia decussata. In situ the latter is usually confused with sister species Verconia simplex until the body shape and rhinophore colouration are examined closely. We surfaced after the second dive in very choppy seas with wind gusts over 20 knots the sea breeze having come in early, with a vengeance. It pushed us home.

Number of each species sighted: 1st dive/2nd dive
* Species with highest specimen count

Aegires gardineri -/1
Ardeadoris rubroannulata 2/-
* Ardeadoris sp. 2 -/12
Bornella anguilla -/4
Chelidonura inornata -/1
Chromodoris kuiteri 1/-
Chromodoris striatella 3/1
Dermatobranchus oculus 2/-
Dermatobranchus sp. 7 2/-
Dermatobranchus sp. 8 1/-
Doriprismatica atromarginata 5/6
Glossodoris vespa -/1
Gonibranchus daphne -/1
Goniobranchus splendidus 1/1
Goniodoridella savignyi 1/1
Hypselodoris jacksoni 1/4
Hypselodoris obscura -/7
Hypselodoris sagamiensis 2/-
Jorunna sp. 3 -/1
Oxynoe viridis -/1
Phyllidia ocellata 1/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 2/3
Pleurolidia juliae -/2
Sagaminopteron ornatum -/3
Thuridilla splendens 3/3
Tornatina sp. 1 1/-
Tritoniopsis elegans 2/1
Verconia decussata 2/-

Ready to cast off

Mount Coolum to the west southwest

The flat terrain to the east of the normal site

Rich with a mixture of soft and hard corals, 

sponges and hydroids

Tornatina sp. 1 - a shell

Phyllidia ocellata

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Hypselodoris jacksoni

Goniobranchus splendidus

Tritoniopsis elegans

Ardeadoris rubroannulata - a pair

Thuridilla splendens

Chromodoris kuiteri

Sagaminopteron ornatum

Phyllidiella pustulosa

Chelidonura inornata

Aegires gardineri

Oxynoe viridis

The typical broken terrain at Terry's Delight

Goniodoridella savignyi 

Hypselodoris sagamiensis

Verconia decussata

Hypselodoris obscura

Gonibranchus daphne

Bornella anguilla - head profile

Bornella anguilla - head on

Ardeadoris sp. 2 - a slime of nine

Jorunna sp. 3