Friday, January 28, 2011

Species List 28-01-2011 Lost Fin Reef









Well there was a window of diving opportunity so we jumped on it. We went out wide to Lost Fin Reef (20m) had to get back early because of wind coming. Got down to the bottom and it was like a late evening dive with torch. Only found 2 critters!! The white Aegires was a re-shoot and release. Then we heard a boat coming! The noise was very loud and pounding in my chest! Then we heard chain like an anchor being released. David asked me where the anchor was and said over there. I went to the reel and reeled back to the anchor only to find it not there. Found the spot where the anchor WAS. Followed that trail and saw in the distance a white tank....geeez how did David get there so quick?? Only to discover there was 2 tanks on the bottom ... OURS!! There was two towels and a hose on the bottom as well. I called David and he came only to see the carnage. We started our ascent. Upon reaching the surface I saw a Trawler very near by...and a boat (ours) half filled with water and a motor that was destroyed. The skipper entered the Gneering Shoals and saw 3 boats in the area on his radar. Thinking all was OK he put the boat into auto pilot and went back and did his laundry! The Trawler with stabilizer arms down proceeded to rake and turn over our boat with large dive flag fluttering in the wind. We surfaced asked "What the fuck?" the captain said...did you have you dive flag up?? Was your motor running?? Geeez 'what if ' crowds my bloody mind. The Coast Guard towed us back and the trawler followed back to the ramp. While David was getting dressed and I was watching the boat the skipper drove up and gave us back our items that where swept over board including the fucking DIVE FLAG! You would think that a skipper of a Mooloolaba Fishing Trawler would know is the boat was entering the Gneering Shoals he would have to be vigilant and watch out for boats. I guess he is exempt! David and I are OK but our boat is not. Be careful out there guys!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Species List 25-01-2011 Wobby Rocks











12 Species found, 8-10m viz. Water is clearing up day by day. 1st dive/2nd dive.
*most species found this outing.

Aegires citrinus /1 (Rare white albino) (1st photo)
Berthellina citrina /1 (4th photo)
Bornella anguilla 1 (7th photo)
Chromodoris cf. lochi 1
Chromodoris elisabethina 1
Dermatobranchus cf. primus 1/1
*Glossodoris atromarginata 4/2
Glossodoris hikuerensis /1 (2nd photo)
Hexabranchus sanguineus 1 (8th photo)
Phyllidiella lizae 1/2 (6th photo)
Phyllidiella pustulosa 1/2
Thuridilla splendens /1

Egg mass found under an old coral head (3rd photo)

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Species List 19-01-2011 near Shellacey Reef











11 Species found at a new spot 70m northwest of Shellacey Reef, Surface conditions where perfect! Very dirty water 3-5m viz and very dark at the bottom after the floods and rain. Where's was my torch? Colour was muted out like just before night fall. We were up for a challenge. Could not get any substrate shots due to the darkness. 1st dive/2nd dive.
* most species found this outing.

Chromodoris burni 1 (8th photo)
Chromodoris cf. lochi /1 (3rd photo)
Chromodoris elisabethina /1 (1st photo)
Chromodoris kuiteri /1
Dermatobranchus sp. 2 1 (1st photo)
Favorinus sp. 2 1 (7th photo)
*Glossodoris atromarginata 1/2 (9th photo)
Hypselodoris jacksoni /2 (2nd photo)
Phyllidia exquisita /1 (6th photo)
Phyllidiella lizae /3 (4th photo)
Phyllidiella pustulosa /1
Bottom photo - The Marker which is at the east side of the Gneerings.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Species List 06-01-2011 Lost Fin Reef (75m south of Wobby Rocks)











15 Species found. 20m viz, no surge, nice surface conditions, max depth 20m. 1st dive/2nd dive
*most species found this outing

Chromodoris collingwoodi 1 (2nd photo juvenile feeding)
*Chromodoris elisabethina 1/2 (5th photo)
Chromodoris splendida /1
Cratena lineata 1
Facelina sp. 3 /1 (4th photo)
Hypselodoris emmae /1
Hypselodoris zephyra 1
Hypselodoris whitei 2
Glossodoris atromarginata 1/1
Glossodoris sp. 2 1 (1st photo and second one found)
Glossodoris vespa 1
Noumea simplex 1/1
Phidiana bourailli 1 (Richard to confirm, I do not think it is this!)
Phyllidiella pustulosa 1
Roboastra luteolineata /1 (3rd photo)

From yesterdays dives - Glossodoris symmetrica (6th photo)

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Species List 05-01-2011 Shellacey Reef











15 Species found, 15m viz, surge. 1st dive/2nd dive
*most species this outing

Chromodoris elisabethina /1
Chromodoris splendida 1
Doris sp. 1 1 (6th photo)
*Glossodoris atromarginata 4
Glossodoris symmetrica /1 (1st 2nd 3rd photos) Our 452nd species!
Halgerda elegans /1
Hypselodoris emmae /2 (4th photo)
Hypselodoris jacksoni 2
Hypselodoris maculosa 1
Hypselodoris maritima 1
Hypselodoris zephyra 1 (7th photo)
Phyllidiella lizae 1 (8th photo)
Phyllidiella pustulosa 1/1
Thuridilla splendens /2
Trinchesia ornata 1 (5th photo)

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Species List 02-01-2011 Wobby Rocks












20 Species found. 25+ m viz!! Magic blue surface and could see the bottom from the boat! dive1/dive2
*Most species found this outing.

Berthellina citrina /1 (2nd photo)
Ceratosoma moloch 3 (6th and 7th photo)
Chromodoris splendida /1
Cratena lineata 1
Dermatobranchus ornatus 1
Dermatobranchus primus 1
Flabellina rubrolineata 2 (3rd photo)
Glossodoris aff. averni 1
*Glossodoris atromarginata 4/4
Halgerda elegans 1 (4th photo)
Hypselodoris jacksoni /2
Hypselodoris maculosa 1
Hypselodoris obscura /1
Hypselodoris whitei /2 (1st photo)
Phyllidiella lizae 1/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 2
Roboastra luteolineata 1
Tambja tenuilineata /1
Thorunna daniellae /1 (5th photo)
Thuridilla splendens 2/1