17 species sighted at Route 66 and back, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. 05-05-2026.
A single solo shore entry dive with Gary of 197 minutes, 1.2 m, maximum depth 5.2 m, 23 C water temperature, up to 3 m viz.
It has been over two weeks since I dived Route 66. The first thing I saw was the hydroid food source that keeps Cratena pawarshindeorum alive is all gone! There were several jousting pairs to be seen. The numbers are half. Many animals were out crawling around, a sure sign that food is scarce. Recording a Cratena lineata and Murphydoris sp. 3 (maybe 1.5 mm) was superb! The golden hydroid group at Gothum City has grown quite nicely without anyone eating it. There was a Tenellia sibogae at Split Rock. Unidentia animals continue to be abundant. Midweek diving is so quiet!
Species and numbers recorded:
Coryphellina lotos -5
Coryphellina pseudolotos -1
Cratena lineata -1!
Cratena pawarshindeorum -150+
Eubranchus sp. 10 -2
Facelina sp. 11 -2
Goniobranchus daphne -15
Goniodoridella unidonta -1
Gymnodoris sp. 10 -3
Hypselodoris obscura -3
Murphydoris cobbi -12
Murphydoris sp. 3 -1!
Murphydoris puncticulata -1
Tenellia sibogae -1
Unidentia sp. 1 -29
Unidentia sp. 3 -3
Unidentia sp. 14 -1
Perfect entry
Clarity
Surface
Substrate upon descent
Unidentia sp. 1 party
The Pipe
Goniobranchus daphne
Murphydoris cobbi
Coryphellina lotos
Cratena pawarshindeorum
Tenellia sibogae
Cratena pawarshindeorum
Goniobranchus daphne
Goniobranchus daphne
Eubranchus sp. 10
Coryphellina lotos
Coryphellina lotos
Cratena pawarshindeorum
Unidentia sp. 1 mating pair
Murphydoris cobbi
Substrate
Substrate
Cratena pawarshindeorum
Cratena pawarshindeorum
Cratena pawarshindeorum party
Unidentia sp. 14
Facelina sp. 11
Substrate
Substrate
Gymnodoris sp. 10
Flatworm
Hypselodoris obscura
Gothum City
Substrate
Unidentia sp. 14
Cratena pawarshindeorum
Facelina sp. 11
Murphydoris puncticulata
Goniodoridella unidonta
Crab on cucumber
Gymnodoris sp. 10
The Icon
Unidentia sp. 3
Cratena pawarshindeorum jousting
Cratena lineata
Hypselodoris obscura
Cratena pawarshindeorum jousting
Channel Marker Rock
Substrate
Unidentia sp. 14
Murphydoris sp. 3
Coryphellina pseudolotos
Coryphellina pseudolotos
