Monday, June 27, 2016

Species List: Shelly & Nudi Retreat, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 26-06-2016

24 species sighted at two sites off Currimundi, Sunshine Coast Queensland.

Gary and Julie on the first dive of 87 minutes, 10 m viz., at Shelly, a small reef out from Ann Street, Dicky Beach on the Sunshine Coast. Terry acted as surface watch for this one because of a minor gear failure. Although the fish life was interesting, some large sweetlips and cod, the nudibranchs were few and far between so a decision was made to have the second dive at Nudi Retreat, Currimundi Reef.

Gary, Julie and Terry on the second dive of 74 minutes, 15 m viz, at Nudi Retreat. The surge here made finding critters difficult so the tally of 24 species over the two dives is quite respectable. It was nice to find the Hallaxa translucens, a species we do not get to see very often.

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

Aegires citrinus 0/1
Ardeadoris rubroannulata 0/1
Ardeadoris sp. 2 0/2
Bornella anguilla 1/1
Chromodoris kuiteri 0/1
Dermatobranchus ornatus 1/2
*Doriprismatica atromarginata 2/14
Glossodoris vespa 0/1
Goniobranchus geometricus 0/1
Goniobranchus reticulatus 1/0
Goniobranchus splendidus 0/6
Hallaxa translucens 0/3
Hexabranchus sanguineus 0/1
Hypselodoris apolegma 0/2
Hypselodoris jacksoni 3/6
Hypselodoris obscura 2/0
Phyllidia ocellata 1/1
Phyllidiella lizae 1/3
Phyllidiella pustulosa 1/2
Pteraeolidia semperi 1/0
Sagaminopteron ornatum 1/0
Tritoniopsis alba 0/1
Tylodina corticalis 0/1
Verconia norba 0/1

 Surface conditions

 Julie & Terry - drysuits a 
necessity as water temperatures drop

 Sagaminopteron ornatum

 Phyllidiella pustulosa

 Substrate - Shelly

 Goniobranchus reticulatus

 
 Hypselodoris jacksoni - mating

 Substrate - Shelly

 Dermatobranchus ornatus

 Hypselodoris obscura


 Tylodina corticalis

 Phyllidia ocellata

 Phyllidiella lizae
 
 Substrate - Nudi Retreat

 Bornella anguilla

Hallaxa translucens

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Species List: ex-HMAS Brisbane wreck, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 18-06-2016


6 species sighted mainly on the top deck from the bow gun to the bow.

Gary on this excursion consisting of 1 x 64 minute and 1 x 60 minute dives in water depths from 15 m to 19 m. 15 m viz, 22 C water temp and plenty of surge.

The vis was pretty good to what it was and the surge was quite challenging when searching for and photographing very small nudibranchs on a flat substrate. The highlight was finding Diacavolinia longirostris (shell 5 mm). This is the first time in 13 years we have found this order Thecosomata.

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

Diacavolinia longirostris (shell 5 mm) 1 New Species
* Hypselodoris obscura 1/1
* Hypselodoris sp. 2 1/1
Hypselodoris whitei 1
Hypselodoris zephyra 1
Thorunna daniellae 1

The substrate - the forward deck

Diacavolinia longirostris (shell 5 mm) New Species

Diacavolinia longirostris

Diacavolinia longirostris

Hypselodoris whitei

Hypselodoris zephyra

Hypselodoris obscura

Thorunna daniellae

Hypselodoris sp. 2

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Species List: just north of Drop Off, Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 02-06-2016.

30 species sighted at a site just north of Drop Off, Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

Terry, Gary and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 84 minute and 1 x 67 minute dives in water depths from 13.5 m to 17.5 m. 10 m viz, 22 C water temp and no surge.

The swell was small and little wind was evident but the seas were up and confused from the stronger winds of the past few days. It was intended to dive at the Drop Off but we overshot that site slightly and had to content ourselves with exploring a couple of virgin patches of reef. One species new to our list was found - Dermatobranchus fasciatus, as well as several not-so-common species as revealed in the following list.

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

Ardeadoris sp. 2 4/2
* Atys semistriatus -/8
Bornella anguilla 2/-
Chromodoris elisabethina 3/-
Chromodoris kuteri 2/-
Chromodoris sp. 3 1/-
Chromodoris striatella -/1
Dermatobranchus fasciatus 1/- New species
Dermatobranchus oculus -/1
Dermatobranchus ornatus 5/1
Dermatobranchus tuberculatus 1/-
Doriprismatica atromarginata 5/1
Flabellina rubrolineata 1/-
Glossodoris vespa -/2
Goniobranchus kuniei -/1
Goniobranchus splendidus 3/4
Hexabranchus sanguineus 4/2
Hypselodoris apolegma 1/2
Hypselodoris bullockii 1/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni 2/3
Hypselodoris obscura 1/1
Hypselodoris sagamiensis -/1
Phyllidia ocellata 2/1
Phyllidia picta 1/-
Phyllidiella lizae 2/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 3/2
Phyllodesmium macphersonae 1/1
Sagaminopteron ornatum 3/-
Tornatina sp. 1 1/-
Verconia simplex -/1

Dermatobranchus fasciatus - New species

Hypselodoris bullockii

Hexabranchus sanguineus - adult

Chromodoris elisabethina

Chromodoris kuteri

Hypselodoris sagamiensis - juvenile

Hypselodoris apolegma

Glossodoris vespa

A drop off that wasn't The Drop Off

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Dermatobranchus ornatus

Chromodoris sp. 3

Phyllidia ocellata 

Tornatina sp. 1

Ardeadoris sp. 2

Atys semistriatus - something has 
feasted on Atys

Phyllidiella lizae

Verconia simplex

Substrate

Hypselodoris obscura

Flabellina rubrolineata

Surface conditions

Hypselodoris jacksoni

Phyllodesmium macphersonae

Bornella anguilla

Dermatobranchus tuberculatus

Goniobranchus splendidus

Goniobranchus kuniei

Hexabranchus sanguineus - juvenile