Julie, Terry & David on this Australia Day excursion consisting of 1 x 80 minute and 1 x 65 minute dives in depths between 14m & 18m. Water temperature 26C, viz 4-5m and increasing surge.
Surface conditions proved to be pleasant so we travelled up to the Arkwright Shoals hoping that the water clarity might be suitable. Visibility at the start of the first dive was an agreeable 5m but with the gradual increase in swell, and hence the surge below, the viz gradually dropped during the morning to less than 4m. The dive reel again became the diver's best friend as we searched further away from the anchor line. The first dive was pleasant the second hard work. Three species sighted that are not commonly found were Phyllodesmium koehleri, Thorunna sp. 1 and Trinchesia sp. 3. Also photographed a Gymnodoris alba with the noticeable and characteristic antero-lateral oral lappets. This convinces me that we have without doubt in the past recorded in amongst these some different but cryptic species.
Number of each species sighted: 1st dive/2nd dive
* Species with highest specimen count
Aegires citrinus 1/-
Aegires flores 1/3
Chromodoris elisabethina 2/2
Dermatobranchus ornatus 2/-
* Doriprismatica atromarginata 13/5
Elysia maoria -/1
Flabellina rubrolineata 1/1
Flabellina sp. 1 2/-
Glossodoris vespa 5/2
Goniobranchus collingwoodi -/1
Goniobranchus splendidus 3/-
Gymnodoris alba 1/-
Hexabranchus sanguineus -/1
Hypselodoris jacksoni 2/2
Hypselodoris sagamiensis -/1
Mexichromis festiva -/1
Mexichromis macropus -/1
Mexichromis trilineata 1/-
Noumea norba -/1
Phyllidia elegans 2/-
Phyllidia ocellata 2/-
Phyllidia varicosa -/2
Phyllidiella pustulosa 3/2
Phyllodesmium koehleri 1/-
Phyllodesmium magnum 2/-
Sagaminopteron ornatum 2/4
Thorunna sp. 1 -/2
Thuridilla splendens 3/1
Trinchesia sp. 1 -/1
Trinchesia sp. 3 2/1
Tritoniopsis alba 6/1
Tylodina corticalis -/1
A very healthy substrate
Tritoniopsis alba - a pair
Goniobranchus splendidus
Aegires citrinus
Phyllodesmium koehleri - uncommon
Phyllidia varicosa
Mexichromis festiva
Surface conditions - on the trip home.
Mt. Coolum and Mudjimba Island in the
background - overcast sky.
Phyllodesmium magnum
Aegires flores
Hypselodoris sagamiensis
Mexichromis macropus
Phyllidia elegans - a pair
Trinchesia sp. 3 - a pair - uncommon
Gymnodoris alba
Mexichromis trilineata
Glossodoris vespa
Flabellina sp. 1 - appears to have damaged
rhinophores and missing the oral tentacles
Thuridilla splendens
Noumea norba
Goniobranchus collingwoodi - feeding
(buccal) tube extended
Thorunna sp. 1 - uncommon
Thorunna sp. 1
Thorunna sp. 1
Hexabranchus sanguineus
Trinchesia sp. 1
