Saturday, July 25, 2015

Species List: Sibogae Ridge, Arkwright Shoals, off Point Arkwright, Coolum, Sunshine Coast, 24-07-2015

19 species sighted at Sibogae Ridge, Arkwright Shoals, Sunshine Coast.

Julie, Terry and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 68 minute and 1 x 57 minute dives in water depths of 17m to 21m. 8m viz, 19C water temp, constant surge.

The trip up from Mooloolaba through the swell portended what we could expect by way of surge as although it was not large it had a short period and was punchy. We decided to find a site on the Arkwright Shoals that would provide a balance between extra depth to mitigate the surge yet not too deep to significantly compromise our bottom time. We found a site close to Terry's Delight which we have named Sibogae Ridge after the half dozen Trinchesia sibogae feasting on hydroids on the lip of the ridge. The surge made everyone uncomfortable. Its power was out of all proportion to the size of the swell. The blue-tipped Tritonopsis alba is an interesting find that has stimulated some controversy- lively discussion.

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

Ardeadoris aff. averni -/1
Chromodoris striatella 1/1
Dermatobranchus cf. primus 1/-
Doriprismatica atromarginata -/1
Flabellina exoptata 1/-
* Flabellina rubrolineata 6/7
Glossodoris vespa 1/-
Goniobranchus splendidus 1/2
Goniodoridella savignyi 2/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni -/1
Hypselodoris obscura -/2
Phyllidia ocellata 3/2
Phyllidiella pustulosa 1/1
Phyllodesmium magnum 1/-
Pteraeolidia semperi 5/3
Sagaminopteron ornatum 2/1
Thuridilla splendens 1/-
Trinchesia sibogae 5/2
Tritoniopsis alba 1/-

Goniodoridella savignyi

Goniodoridella savignyi

Phyllodesmium magnum

Hypselodoris jacksoni

Goniobranchus splendidus

Phyllidia ocellata

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Substrate

Visual representation of how 
the surge made Julie feel

Surface conditions - Looking back 
at Point Arkwright

Still smiling despite the surge

Thuridilla splendens

Chromodoris striatella

Sagaminopteron ornatum

Flabellina exoptata

Pteraeolidia semperi - 3 distinctive bands 
on the oral tentacles

Ardeadoris aff. averni

Flabellina rubrolineata

Trinchesia sibogae

Tritoniopsis alba ?? Blue-tipped

In the Lab.