Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Species List: 31-01-2017, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

9 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 31-01-2017.

Gary and Elliot on this excursion consisting of 1 x 124 minute dive, max water depth of 7 m, 5-8 m viz, 28 C water temp.

There is speculation that Nudibranch numbers have declined and today is a good testament to that. The warm clear water was quite nice to dive in. During todays dive a 6 foot Barracuda swam around me which made my heart rate rise.

Number of each species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Dermatobranchus funiculus
Godiva quadricolor -1
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus -1
Goniobranchus daphne -4
Goniobranchus decorus -2
Goniobranchus verrieri -1
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -4
* Hypselodoris obscura -7
Pteraeolidia semperi -1
Tenellia sibogae - 1

Dive entry point

Elliot checking out the Fish Cage

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Godiva quadricolor

Godiva quadricolor

Elliot shooting Godiva quadricolor

Flatworm

Dermatobranchus funiculus
Laying egg mass

Dermatobranchus funiculus
Showing blue foot and red oral veil

Hypselodoris obscura

Flatworm

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Pteraeolidia semperi

Substrate where Tenellia sibogae was found

Tenellia sibogae

Goniobranchus aureopurpureus

Goniobranchus verrieri

Friday, January 27, 2017

Species List: 26-01-2017, Hancock Shoals, off Mt Peregian (Emu Mountain), Sunshine Coast, Qld

47 species sighted at Hancock Shoals, off Mt Peregian (Emu Mountain), Sunshine Coast, Qld,  26-01-2017.

Julie, Terry, Gary and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 100 minute and 1 x 91 minute dives in water depths from 10 m to 15 m. 10 m viz, 26 C water temp and some surge in the shallower parts.

Any one who possessed any type of watercraft seemed to be out on the water this Australia Day. The Gneering Shoals, Old Woman Island and the Arkwright Shoals were very busy places so we headed further north to the Hancock Shoals and almost had the place to ourselves. We have only dived here a couple of times so we were looking forward to seeing what awaited us below. A good depth cross section enabled us to spend at least some time out of the surge. Apart from a great species count and some not-so-common species we added two new species to our Sunshine Coast list.

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

Aegires gardineri  2/-
Aplysia parvula 16/-
Ardeadoris averni 1/-
Ardeadoris rubroannulata -/1
Berthella martensi 1/-
Bornella anguilla 1/2
Bulbaeolidia alba 1/-
Chromodoris sp. 1 -/1
Dendrodoris denisoni -/1
Dermatobranchus sp. 8 1/1
Dolabrifera dolabrifera 1/-
* Doriprismatica atromarginata 16/18
Elysia maoria 1/2
Flabellina bicolor 2/1
Glossodoris vespa 3/2
Goniobranchus collingwoodi -/1
Goniobranchus geometricus -/1
Goniobranchus reticulatus -/1
Goniobranchus splendidus 6/7
Goniodoridella savignyi -/2
Gymnodoris sp. 7 -/1
Hexabranchus sanguineus 1/-
Hypselodoris bullockii -/1
Hypselodoris jacksoni 6/3
Hypselodoris maculosa 1/-
Hypselodoris maritima -/1
Hypselodoris obscura 1/2
Hypselodoris whitei 2/2
Mexichromis festiva -/1
Mexichromis macropus 1/-
Mexichromis trilineata 1/-
Phyllidia exquisita 3/-
Phyllidia guamensis -/1 (New species)
Phyllidia ocellata 1/-
Phyllidia picta 1/1
Phyllidiella lizae 1/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 3/2
Phyllidiopsis burni -/1
Phyllodesmium crypticum 1/-
Phyllodesmium macphersonae 2/-
Roboastra luteolineata 1/2
Sagaminopteron ornatum 1/2
Tenellia sp. 43 -/1 (New Species)
Thuridilla neona 1/-
Thuridilla splendens 4/4
Tritoniopsis elegans 3/4
Tylodina corticalis -/1

Hypselodoris maculosa

Thuridilla splendens

Dolabrifera dolabrifera

Phyllodesmium crypticum

Thuridilla splendens - the feeding end

Bulbaeolidia alba

Mexichromis macropus

Thuridilla neona

Aplysia parvula

Chromodoris sp. 1

Glossodoris vespa

Roboastra luteolineata

Phyllidia guamensis - New species

Goniobranchus collingwoodi

Gymnodoris sp. 7

Hypselodoris whitei

Ardeadoris averni

Bornella anguilla

Dendrodoris denisoni

Hexabranchus sanguineus

Tritoniopsis elegans - a pair

Tylodina corticalis 

Aegires gardineri - a pair

Goniobranchus geometricus

Ardeadoris rubroannulata

Hypselodoris bullockii

Phyllodesmium macphersonae

 Doriprismatica atromarginata

Substrate

Phyllidia picta

Elysia maoria

Berthella martensi 

Hypselodoris jacksoni - chewing out a cavity

Phyllidia exquisita

Goniobranchus splendidus

Substrate - looking along the face of the ledge

Phyllidiella pustulosa

Mexichromis trilineata

Surface conditions - looking south to Coolum

Goniobranchus reticulatus

One of the large boulders at the site

Sagaminopteron ornatum

Goniodoridella savignyi

Tenellia sp. 43 - New Species

Mexichromis festiva