Species List: La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Sunshine Coast, 30-05-2014

13 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Sunshine Coast.
Julie and David on this single shore entry 112 minute dive in depths to 6.7m. Astounding 10m viz and 23C water temp.

It was raining when we arrived at the entry point but made use of the river-side rotunda to kit up. We entered the water about an hour before the predicted high tide. The tidal current was able to be negotiated as it was a small high tide. The visibility was magnificent at 10m. Again we sighted no Unidentia angelvaldesi at this end of the park. A couple of new species were sighted to add to the list for the river but more importantly a new species was realized for the Sunshine Coast list - Phyllodesmium opalescens. In finding and photographing it today we revisited the pics of the Phyllodesmium poindimiei that we took on our first dive here on 08/03/2014 and realized we had unknowingly recorded it then but misidentified it. Altogether an enjoyable, relaxing and rewarding dive.


Analogium amakusanum 2
Goniobranchus collingwoodi 1
Goniobranchus daphne 7
Goniodoridella sp. 1 3
Hypselodoris obscura 1
Jorunna parva 1
Madrella ferruginosa 1
Noumea simplex 1
Philinopsis pilsbryi 1
Phyllodesmium opalescens 1 (New species)
Pleurobranchus weberi 2
* Pteraeolidia ianthina 44
Trinchesia sibogae 13

The entry point at La Balsa Park

Surface conditions

Analogium amakusanum

Hypselodoris obscura

Substrate

Goniobranchus daphne

A damaged Madrella ferruginosa

Phyllodesmium opalescens (New species)

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Noumea simplex

Goniobranchus collingwoodi

Trinchesia sibogae

Substrate with diver

Jorunna parva

Pleurobranchus weberi

Pteraeolidia ianthina - wherever one 

looked on the substrate

Philinopsis pilsbryi

Species List: JJ'S, off Caloundra Headland, Sunshine Coast, 28-05-2014

30 species sighted at JJ's, off Caloundra Headland (Wickham Point), Sunshine Coast.

Terry and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 115 minute and 1 x 80 minute dives in water depths of 5m to 9m. 10m viz, 22C water temperature and surge in the shallower sections.

This is a shallow site located between Caloundra Headland and Brays Rock that Terry & Julie have not dived for several years. Species count and populations are up on our last few trips and we were kept busy recording all the sightings. Overall the terrain is fairly flat with a number of small ledges stepping down to 9m. We swam a little to the west for the second dive which was shallower and the sightings dropped more due to the increased effect of the surge than anything else. Among all of the usual suspects are a couple that we don't sight too often.

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

Ardeadoris aff. averni 1/-
Bornella anguilla 1/1
Dermatobranchus cf. primus 4/-
Dermatobranchus ornatus 1/-
Dermatobranchus rodmani 2/-
Doriprismatica atromarginata 13/4
Facelina sp. 3 1/-
Flabellina sp. 1 1/1
Glossodoris vespa 1/-
Goniobranchus geometricus 3/-
* Goniobranchus splendidus 16/12
Gymnodoris alba 1/-
Gymnodoris sp. 7 -/1
Hoplodoris nodulosa -/1
Hypselodoris jacksoni -/1
Hypselodoris obscura 14/9
Hypselodoris zephyra -/1
Jorunna sp. 3 -/1
Marionia cyanobranchiata -/1
Mexichromis festiva 1/2
Mexichromis trilineata 3/1
Phyllidia ocellata 1/-
Phyllidia picta 1/-
Phyllidiella lizae 2/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 5/1
Phyllodesmium macphersonae -/1
Pteraeolidia ianthina 12/1
Sagaminopteron ornatum 1/1
Trinchesia sibogae 4/1
Tritoniopsis alba 5/1

Surface conditions

Bornella anguilla

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Phyllidia picta

Hypselodoris obscura

Pteraeolidia ianthina 

Goniobranchus splendidus

Phyllidia ocellata

Tritoniopsis alba

Goniobranchus geometricus

Dermatobranchus ornatus

Hypselodoris zephyra

Trinchesia sibogae

Mexichromis festiva and 

Phyllodesmium macphersonae

Substrate

Facelina sp. 3 

Flabellina sp. 1

Glossodoris vespa

Mexichromis trilineata

Dermatobranchus rodmani

Ardeadoris aff. averni

Hypselodoris jacksoni

Marionia cyanobranchiata

Hoplodoris nodulosa

Gymnodoris sp. 7

Sagaminopteron ornatum

Species List: La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Sunshine Coast, 25-05-2014

10 species sighted on a single night shore-entry dive at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Sunshine Coast.
Julie, Terry and David on this dive of 131 minutes duration in water depths to 6.6m. 4m viz and 22C water temp.

The exceptional run of summer weather just one week out from the official start of winter ensured that the crowds were out enjoying the river bank and small craft were returning to harbour well into the evening. We received many strange looks as we waddled into the river just before dusk. Whilst the number of different species found was unremarkable the fact that no less than three new ones to our list were among them is exciting.


Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Flabellina rubrolineata 1
Goniobranchus daphne 1
Hypselodoris obscura 4
Lomanotus sp. 2 2 (New species)
Philinopsis pilsbryi 1
Pleurobranchus weberi 3
Pteraeolidia ianthina 7
Rostanga sp. 1 1 (New species)
* Unidentia angelvaldesi 21
Ventomnestia bizona 1 (New species)

Surface conditions

Flabellina rubrolineata

Substrate & critters

Lomanotus sp. 2 (New species)

Lomanotus sp. 2 - close up

Ventomnestia bizona - a 

Haminoeidae headshield slug

(New species)

Philinopsis pilsbryi

Hypselodoris obscura

Unidentia angelvaldesi

Pleurobranchus weberi

Goniobranchus daphne

Pteraeolidia ianthina

Rostanga sp. 1 - (New species)

Rostanga sp. 1

Rostanga sp. 1