Monday, February 17, 2014

Species List: King's Beach Boat Ramp (sub-tidal), Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, 17-02-2014

11 species found during a shore dive from Kings Beach boat ramp, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast.

Julie, Terry & David on this single dive of 128 minutes in water depths to 6.3m. 4m viz 26C water temp and some surge.

The first 100m offshore carried a heavy load of disassociated Asparagopsis weed suspended in the water. Once into clear water the search was not helped by the huge amount of attached weed swaying back and forth in the surge and covering most of the substrate.

Chromodoris splendida 1
Doriprismatica atromarginata 9
Hypselodoris jacksoni 1
Hypselodoris maritima 1
Hypselodoris obscura 2
Mexichromis festiva 6
Pteraeolidia ianthina 2
Sagaminopteron ornatum 3
Stiliger aureomarginatus 2
Tritoniopsis alba 3
Umbraculum umbraculum 1

Substrate

Working together

Pteraeolidia ianthina

Chromodoris splendida 

Sagaminopteron ornatum

Hypselodoris obscura

Hypselodoris jacksoni

Tritoniopsis alba showing feeding scar

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Hypselodoris maritima

Stiliger aureomarginatus - a pair

Mexichromis festiva

Umbraculum umbraculum - eating 
its way into a sponge