Species List: TJ’s Boulders, Currimundi Reef and Shelly Reef, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, 21-06-2014

29 species sighted at TJ’s Boulders, Currimundi Reef and Shelly Reef, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast.

Julie and Terry were joined by Sue Churchill & Rogan Draper for two dives of 80 minutes and 78 minutes respectively in water depths to 19 metres on the first dive and to 11 metres at the second site.  20 metre + viz on at the first site and 10 metres at the second site, 20C water temp and a slight surge.

Near perfect surface conditions were enjoyed on these dives.  We cannot recall having the visibility at TJs Boulders that we experienced on this dive.  Although conditions were not quite as pleasant at the second site, it was still an enjoyable dive.

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

Ardeadoris aff. averni 4/-
Ardeadoris rubroannulata 1/-
Bornella anguilla -/5
Cadlinella ornatissima 3/-
Chromodoris sp.1 -/1
Dermatobranchus cf. primus 1/-
Dermatobranchus ornatus 1/2
Dermatobranchus tuberculatus -/1
Doriprismatica atromarginata 6/2
Flabellina bicolor 1/-
Flabellina rubrolineata 4/-
Goniobranchus albonares 1/-
Goniobranchus geometricus 2/-
Goniobranchus splendidus 7/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni 2/3
Hypselodoris kanga -/1
* Hypselodoris obscura 8/3
Hypselodoris zephrya -/1
Mexichromis trilineata -/2
Miamira magnifica -/1
Phyllidia ocellata 2/-
Phyllidia picta 3/-
Phyllidiella lizae 1/-
Phyllidiella pustulosa 4/2
Phyllodesmium magnum -/1
Pteraeolidia ianthina 4/1
Sagaminopteron ornatum 4/-
Tritoniopsis alba 1/1
Tylodina corticalis 1/-

 Goniobranchus geometricus

 Flabellina bicolor

 Surface conditions

 Dermatobranchus tuberculatus

 Hypselodoris zephra

 Miamira magnifica

 Substrate at TJ's Boulders

 Dermatobranchus cf. primus

 Flabellina rubrolineata

 Ardeadoris aff. averni

 Goniobranchus albonares

 Cadlinella ornatissima

 Ardeadoris rubroannulata

 Hypselodoris jacksoni

 Phyllidia picta

 Substrate at Shelly's Reef

 Mexichromis trilineata

 Phyllodesmium magnum

 Chromodoris sp.1

Hypselodoris kanga

Species List: The Wall, Old Woman Island, Sunshine Coast, 17-06-2014

19 species sighted at The Wall, Old Woman Island, Sunshine Coast.

Terry and David were again joined by Sue Churchill & Rogan Draper for two dives of 94 minutes and 88 minutes respectively in water depths from 5 to 16 metres. 10 metre + viz, 20C water temp and no surge.

Near perfect surface conditions were enjoyed on this long overdue return to one of our favourite sites. One strange result was the lack of any sightings of species of Thuridilla previously so common here. An unusually pale specimen of Phyllidia ocellata was observed.

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

Bornella anguilla -/2
Chromodoris striatella -/1
Cratena lineata 1/2
Cratena simba 1/-
Dermatobranchus cf. primus 1/-
Dermatobranchus ornatus -/1
Doriprismatica atromarginata 1/1
Facelina sp. 7 1/-
Flabellina sp. 1 1/-
Glossodoris vespa 1/-
Goniobranchus splendidus 1/2
Lobiger souverbii 1/1
Oxynoe viridis 1/-
Phyllidia ocellata 2/4
Phyllidia varicosa -/2
Phyllidiella pustulosa 5/2
Phyllodesmium crypticum 1/-
* Pteraeolidia ianthina 22/21
Tritoniopsis alba 2/1

Surface conditions

The substrate - looking over the edge of The Wall

Running out the line

Dermatobranchus cf. primus

Cratena simba

Goniobranchus splendidus

Oxynoe viridis - view one

Oxynoe viridis - view two

Juvenile Tritoniopsis alba

The endemic Glossodoris vespa

A pair of Cratena lineata

Phyllidia ocellata

A very pale Phyllidia ocellata

Phyllidia varicosa

Lobiger souverbii

Facelina sp. 7

Dermatobranchus ornatus

Finishing the dive and enjoying 

the surface conditions

Species List: Nudi Ledge, Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast, 16-06-2014

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

Terry and David were joined by Sue Churchill & Rogan Draper, the ovulid experts, for two dives of 94 minutes and 89 minutes respectively in depths of 15m to 18m. Viz was good at 12m but the water temp of 21C minimum saw our guests succumb to the cold and undertake shorter dives being more conditioned to tropical waters and also not having the benefit of our drysuits. They expressed amazement at the diversity to be found in our little part of the world and were successful in locating several species of Ovulidae (Allied or False Cowries - Ovulids) and identifying their soft coral hosts.

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

Aegires citrinus 1/-
Ardeadoris aff. averni -/1
Ardeadoris rubroannulata -/1
Bornella anguilla 5/7
Cadlinella ornatissima -/1
Chelidonura inornata 1/-
Chromodoris kuiteri 5/3
Chromodoris striatella 2/1
Cratena simba 1/-
Dermatobranchus cf. primus 1/-
Dermatobranchus ornatus 1/1
* Doriprismatica atromarginata 23/11
Flabellina rubrolineata 1/-
Goniobranchus cf. reticulatus -/1
Goniobranchus collingwoodi 1/-
Goniobranchus splendidus 4/2
Goniodoridella savignyi 1/-
Hexabranchus sanguineus -/2
Hypselodoris jacksoni 4/6
Hypselodoris obscura 7/3
Noumea simplex 1/-
Phyllidia ocellata 1/6
Phyllidia picta 1/1
Phyllidiella lizae 5/2
Phyllidiella pustulosa 6/6
Phyllodesmium magnum 1/-
Protaeolidiella juliae -/1
Pteraeolidia ianthina 4/3
Sagaminopteron ornatum 3/3
Thorunna daniellae 1/-
Tritoniopsis alba 1/2
Tylodina corticalis -/2

Surface conditions on entry

Pteraeolidia ianthina

Chromodoris kuiteri

Phyllidia picta

Hypselodoris jacksoni

Phyllidiella pustulosa

Dermatobranchus cf. primus

Aegires citrinus

Phyllidiella lizae

Chelidonura inornata

Ardeadoris aff. averni

Cadlinella ornatissima

Goniobranchus cf. reticulatus

Substrate - plenty of fish-life too

Sagaminopteron ornatum

Goniodoridella savignyi

Noumea simplex

Thorunna daniellae

Flabellina rubrolineata

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Hexabranchus sanguineus - juvenile

Hexabranchus sanguineus - adult

One of three emperor shrimp 

(Periclimenes imperator) hosted 

by a Hexabranchus sanguineus

Phyllidia ocellata

Protaeolidiella juliae 

Ardeadoris rubroannulata