Species List: C Spot & Forskalli Park, Currimundi Reef, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, 17-01-2015

24 species sighted at C Spot (outer Currimudi Reef) and Forskalli Park (inner Currimundi Reef), Sunshine Coast.

Julie, Terry and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 72 minute dive at C Spot in depths 18m to 21m and 1 x 107 minute dive at Forskalli Park in depths 9m to 10.5m. Water temperature varied from 24C at C Spot to a tepid 27C at Forskalli Park whist surprisingly the visibility of 3m in the deeper water improved to 5m in the shallower region. This must be related to the silt load carried by the current experienced out wider. Only a slight surge was evident.

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

Cratena simba -/1
Dermatobranchus cf. primus -/1
Dermatobranchus ornatus 2/-
Dermatobranchus rodmani 1/3
Doriprismatica atromarginata -/4
Flabellina bicolor 1/3
Glossodoris vespa 1/-
Goniobranchus cf. reticulatus 2/-
Goniobranchus decorus -/2
* Goniobranchus splendidus -/6
Hypselodoris jacksoni -/3
Hypselodoris obscura -/1
Hypselodoris sp. 2 -/1
Jorunna sp. 3 1/-
Marionia cyanobranchiata 1/-
Mexichromis festiva -/2
Noumea alboannulata 1/-
Noumea laboutei 1/-
Phyllidia ocellata 1/-
Phyllidiella lizae -/2
Phyllidiella pustulosa -/1
Sagaminopteron ornatum -/1
Stiliger aureomarginatus -/2
Tritoniopsis alba 1/-

Surface conditions

Marionia cyanobranchiata

Tritoniopsis alba

Glossodoris vespa

Hypselodoris sp. 2

Hypselodoris jacksoni

Substrate

Dermatobranchus rodmani

Dermatobranchus ornatus - mating pair

Noumea alboannulata

Goniobranchus cf. reticulatus

Jorunna sp. 3

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Stiliger aureomarginatus - mating pair

Goniobranchus decorus

Cratena simba

Flabellina bicolor

Noumea laboutei

Species List: Nudi Ledge, Currimundi Reef, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, 16-01-2015

17 species sighted at Nudi Ledge, Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast.

Terry and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 78 minute and 1 x 84 minute dives in water depths from 14m to 17.5mm. The water temperature was 24C on the bottom after dropping from 27C at the 12m mark. Visibility was poor at less than 2m and a slight surge was evident. Apologies for the dearth of good images.

With nearly all of our dives being shore dives right back prior to our Tulamben trip in Oct/Nov we thought we had better reacquaint ourselves with diving from a boat once again. The weather and bar conditions were perfect with the visibility being the only negative factor. Nevertheless we persevered with the use of a dive reel line concentrating mainly  on looking for smaller species at the expense of covering the usual amount of territory. Mention should be made of the Pleurolidia juliae. The veracity of this species and Protaeolidiella atra has been in a state of flux for some time now. A new paper just published this month (Jan 2015): Protaeolidiella atra Baba, 1955 versus Pleurolidia juliae Burn, 1966: One or two species?, Carmona, Pola, Gosliner, Cervera, puts to rest all the longstanding confusion in finding that these are two separate and valid species.

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

Aegires flores -/1
Bornella anguilla 2/1
Chelidonura inornata -/1
Chromodoris kuiteri -/1
* Doriprismatica atromarginata 13/21
Elysia maoria -/1
Flabellina rubrolineata 1/-
Glossodoris vespa  1/1
Goniobranchus splendidus 2/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni -/2
Phyllidia ocellata 2/1
Phyllidia picta 1/1
Phyllidiella lizae 1/2
Phyllidiella pustulosa 2/7
Pleurolidia juliae 1/1
Pteraeolidia ianthina 2/-
Sagaminopteron ornatum 2/2

Pteraeolidia ianthina

Glossodoris vespa

Phyllidia ocellata

Bornella anguilla

Pleurolidia juliae

Chelidonura inornata

Elysia maoria

Aegires flores

Species List: La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast 15-01-2015

9 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast.

Terry and Julie on this 107min dive, 28 degree water temp (very balmy), max depth 6.4m, viz 0.2m to 1m.

With the forecast once again being unfavourable for a boat excursion, we opted for a dip in the river. The 0.5m change in tide meant that there was not much current running which resulted in the silt being suspended in the water column. As the tide neared slack water, the visibility worsened and we decided to abort the dive early. The river appears to contain more silt at present and the count number was down. This is possibly just a result of everything being covered in silt. Hopefully the upcoming larger tides will clean it up a bit.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count


Chelidonura fulvipunctata -1
Dermatobranchus cf. primus -4
Goniobranchus daphne -8
Goniobranchus decorus -1
Pteraeolidia ianthina -3
Gymnodoris alba -2
Pleurobranchus weberi -3
Trinchesia sibogae -2
*Unidentia angelvaldesi -7

 Pteraeolidia ianthina

 Gymnodoris alba

 Unidentia angelvaldesi

 Chelidonura fulvipunctata

Trinchesia sibogae on an

unidentified Decorator Crab

Species List: La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, 08-01-2015

16 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast.

Julie, Terry and David on this 138 minute single shore-entry dive in depths to 6.1m. 27C water temp and 3m viz.

The water is very warm now allowing for long dives but the viz is dropping off. The Dermatobranchus that we are finding here continue to puzzle us somewhat with yet another different/new species turning up. This time Dermatobranchus funiculus was found the ID being confirmed by Terry Gosliner one of the original authors of its description in 2011.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Dermatobranchus cf. primus -8
Dermatobranchus funiculus -1 (New species)
Facelina sp. 3 -1
Goniobranchus collingwoodi -1
* Goniobranchus daphne -11
Goniobranchus decorus -2
Goniobranchus verrieri -1
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -2
Hypselodoris obscura -9
Jorunna sp. 3 -1
Phidiana bourailli -2
Philinopsis falciphallus -2
Phyllodesmium opalescens - 1
Pleurobranchus weberi -2
Pteraeolidia ianthina -4
Unidentia angelvaldesi -1

Dermatobranchus cf. primus

Phyllodesmium opalescens

Goniobranchus collingwoodi

Goniobranchus daphne

Goniobranchus decorus

Pteraeolidia ianthina

Unidentia angelvaldesi

Jorunna sp. 3

Dermatobranchus funiculus (New species)

Dermatobranchus funiculus

Dermatobranchus funiculus

Goniobranchus collingwoodi - detail of head

Goniobranchus verrieri

Phidiana bourailli

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Facelina sp. 3

Hypselodoris obscura

Pleurobranchus weberi

Philinopsis falciphallus

Species List: HMAS Brisbane, off Mudjimba, Sunshine Coast, 30-12-2014

8 species sighted on the former HMAS Brisbane (wreck) off Mudjimba, Sunshine Coast.

David on this excursion (buddied with Marina Goymer) consisting of 2 x 55 minute dives with Sunreef Scuba Diving Services of Mooloolaba from their vessel 4 Shore. Depths from 12 m to 21m, 25C water temp, 10m viz and no surge.

With my regular dive buddies enjoying the delights of Nelson Bay, NSW I decided this would be a good chance to check out the sea slugs on HMAS Brisbane. It has been some time since my last dive there. Although the species count was low it was not from lack of effort. Marina proved an excellent buddy being like-minded in preferring to take the time to find and photograph the smaller critters.

No surface or substrate shots - oops!

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

Cratena lineata 1/-
* Gonibranchus splendidus 4/-
Hoplodoris nodulosa -/1
Hypselodoris jacksoni 1/-
Hypselodoris obscura -/2
Hypselodoris sp. 2 -/1
Roboastra luteolineata 1/1
Tylodina corticalis -/1

Roboastra luteolineata

 Gonibranchus splendidus

Hypselodoris jacksoni

Cratena lineata

Tylodina corticalis

Hoplodoris nodulosa

Hypselodoris sp. 2

Hypselodoris obscura