Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Species List: Drop Off, Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast, 19-12-2015

21 species sighted at Drop Off, Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast.

Terry and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 89 minute and 1 x 77 minute dives in water depths of 15 m to 20 m. 4 m viz, 25 C water temp and surge.

The last of the outgoing tide had the breakers standing up on the Caloundra Bar, short and steep, as we crossed over on our way out to Currimundi Reef. The Drop Off was our destination and Terry managed to drop the pick right at its base in 20 metres. The seas and swell combined to make the surface uncomfortable and the conditions below were also not ideal. However we persevered and achieved a reasonable species count but nothing unusual or new was sighted.

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

Cratena simba 1/1
Dermatobranchus rodmani -/2
Dermatobranchus tuberculatus -/1
* Doriprismatica atromarginata 22/3
Glossodoris vespa 1/-
Goniobranchus splendidus 1/4
Gymnodoris sp. 10 -/1
Hypselodoris jacksoni 5/-
Hypselodoris maritima 1/-
Hypselodoris obscura -/3
Miamira sinuata 1/-
Nembrotha purpureolineata -/2
Phyllidiella lizae 4/-
Phyllidiella pustulosa 3/2
Phyllidiopsis burni -/1
Phyllodesmium macphersonae 1/-
Phyllodesmium sp. 2 -/1
Pteraeolidia semperi -/2
Sagaminopteron ornatum 2/1
Trapania vitta 1/-
Tritoniopsis alba -/1

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Hypselodoris maritima

Trapania vitta

Phyllidiella pustulosa

Sagaminopteron ornatum

Cratena simba

Nembrotha purpureolineata

Tritoniopsis alba

Goniobranchus splendidus - a pair 
- one orange, one maroon

Dermatobranchus rodmani

Joggly surface conditions

Hypselodoris jacksoni 

Miamira sinuata

Phyllodesmium macphersonae

Pteraeolidia semperi 

Dermatobranchus tuberculatus

Hypselodoris obscura