Terry and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 95 minute and 1 x 91 minute dives in water depths of 14 m to 18 m. 15m viz, 25C water temp and no surge.
Ahh! Good conditions have returned. The winds have dropped to a managable level and the swell has abated. The viz has cleaned up a remarkable amount in such a short time. Species numbers have fallen slightly. The first dive was undertaken on the sandy/silty area below the ledge whilst the second dive was spent up on the top of the ledge. (See substrate pic) We wished we had taken a 3rd tank.
Number of species sighted: 1st dive/2nd dive
* Species with highest specimen count
Ardeadoris aff. averni -/1
Bornella anguilla -/3
Ceratosoma tenue 1/-
Chromodoris kuiteri 1/1
Chromodoris splendida 4/-
Cratena lineata 1/-
Dermatobranchus cf. primus 7/-
* Dermatobranchus ornatus 10/9
Dermatobranchus rodmani -/1
Doriprismatica atromarginata -/2
Elysia maoria 1/-
Glossodoris vespa -/2
Goniobranchus daphne 5/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni -/2
Hypselodoris obscura 1/-
Mexichromis mariei 1/-
Noumea haliclona -/1
Phyllidia ocellata 2/2
Phyllidia picta -/2
Phyllidiella lizae -/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa -/2
Phyllodesmium poindimiei 1/-
Pteraeolidia ianthina 6/5
Roboastra luteolineata -/2
Sagaminopteron ornatum 5/2
Trinchesia sp. ? 1/-
Tritoniopsis alba 1/1
The dive flag flutters over reasonable
surface conditions
Mexichromis mariei
Ceratosoma tenue
Dermatobranchus ornatus
Trinchesia sp. ?
Unidentified so far
Sagaminopteron ornatum
Ardeadoris aff. averni
Bornella anguilla
Doriprismatica atromarginata
Roboastra luteolineata
Phyllidia picta
Chromodoris kuiteri
Phyllidiella pustulosa
Dermatobranchus cf. primus
Terry - Going low and slow
The edge of The Ledge
Phyllidia ocellata
Elysia maoria
Goniobranchus daphne
Phyllodesmium poindimiei
Tritoniopsis alba
Cratena lineata
Hypselodoris jacksoni
Chromodoris splendida
Pteraeolidia ianthina
Glossodoris vespa
Noumea haliclona
