Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Species List: 23-08-2017, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld.

18 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 23-08-2017.

A single shore entry dive by Gary and David of 132 minutes. Maximum depth 6.0 m, 21 C water temperature and up to 8 m viz.

Yesterday’s wind modelling for Wednesday on the Sunshine Coast kept changing every few hours so the instability led us to decide on a River dive rather than a boat trip. As to be expected the wrong call was made with virtual calm conditions prevailing nearly the whole day. Better safe than sorry - err on the side of caution. The River had excellent visibility and the current was manageable. The species count is starting to lift; a couple of bubble shells helping in that regard. The Chelidonura fulvipunctata was a pleasing find and proved very compliant for our lenses.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Atys semistriatus -1
Bulbaeolidia alba -1
Chelidonura fulvipunctata -1
Cratena lineata -4
Cratena simba -2
Dendrodoris denisoni -1
Facelina bourailli -1
Favorinus sp. 1 -1
Flabellina angelvaldesi -1
Flabellina rubrolineata -9
Goniobranchus daphne -3
Goniodoridella savignyi -2
* Goniodoridella sp. 1 -11+
Gymnodoris amakusanum -1
Hypselodoris obscura  -5
Liloa sp. 1 -1
Tenellia sp. 23 -1
Tenellia sp. 24 -5

The site and conditions

Preparing for descent

Substrate

Goniodoridella savignyi

Flabellina angelvaldesi
 
Goniodoridella sp. 1

Gymnodoris amakusanum

Dendrodoris denisoni

Hypselodoris obscura

Bulbaeolidia alba

Chelidonura fulvipunctata - head shot, 
note sensory bristles

Chelidonura fulvipunctata

Cratena lineata

Cratena simba

Facelina bourailli

Favorinus sp. 1

Flabellina rubrolineata - about 
to consume a hydroid polyp

Goniobranchus daphne

Tenellia sp. 23

Tenellia sp. 24