Species List: 27-03-2017, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

11 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 27-03-2017

Gary, Julie, Simon, Allan and wife on this single night shore entry dive of 115 minutes. Maximum depth 6.7 m, 27 C water temperature and up to 2 m viz.

WOW what a dive being able to spend time with a couple of big fabulous slugs! And the bubble shells came out to play.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

* Atys semistriatus -17
Euselenops luniceps -1
Flabellina angelvaldesi -1
Flabellina rubrolineata -8
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus -1
Goniobranchus collingwoodi -1
Goniobranchus daphne -2
Hypselodoris obscura -2
Philinopsis falciphallus -3
Pleurobranchus grandis -1
Tenellia sibogae -2

Night dive a comin!

Atys semistriatus

Atys semistriatus

Atys semistriatus 3 animals and egg mass

Atys semistriatus

Goniobranchus collingwoodi

Flabellina angelvaldesi

Flabellina angelvaldesi

Tenellia sibogae

Euselenops luniceps

Euselenops luniceps flipping showing its purple foot

Euselenops luniceps

Euselenops luniceps

Euselenops luniceps and finger for scale

Pleurobranchus grandis

Pleurobranchus grandis

Philinopsis falciphallus

Flabellina rubrolineata

Philinopsis falciphallus

Hypselodoris obscura

Species List: 18-03-2017, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

7 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland,18-03-2017.

Belated report for this single shore entry dive by Julie, Terry and David of 112 minutes. Maximum depth 6.9 m, 27 C water temperature and up to 4 m viz.

A low species count to report this time. A number of COTSS (Critters Other Than Sea Slugs) were sighted that made the dive enjoyable but they are not the subject of this post.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count.

Dermatobranchus sp. 7 -1
Hypselodoris obscura - 4
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus - 2
Goniobranchus daphne -1
Goniodoridella sp. 1 - 1
* Pteraeolidia semperi - 16
Tenellia sibogae - 1

Pteraeolidia semperi

Tenellia sibogae - juvenile

Goniodoridella sp. 1 

Dermatobranchus sp. 7
(outgrowth or herniation on right side)

Goniobranchus aureopurpureus

Species List: 19-03-2017, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

11 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 19-03-2017.

Julie, Simon and Terry on this single shore entry dive, of 96 minutes. Maximum depth 5.5 m, 27 C water temperature and up to 2 m viz.

Simon was visiting from Lismore and was keen to see what treasures the river held. Visibility was down due to recent rains. Simon managed to find a Pleurobranchus weberi, which we have not seen for some time. It is good to know that they are still around. Going back through our records, we realise that the water temperatures have been, on average, 2 degrees higher this summer. Our hypothesis is that it is a combination of the higher temperatures and the relatively low rainfall that has resulted in the lower number of species that we are seeing.  

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Cratena simba - 1
Flabellina angelvaldesi - 1
Flabellina rubrolineata - 4
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus - 1
Goniobranchus daphne - 4
*Goniodoridella sp. 1 - 5
Gymnodoris sp. 10 - 1
Hypselodoris obscura - 4
Pleurobranchus weberi - 1
Pteraeolidia semperi - 1
Tenellia sibogae - 2

 Goniodoridella sp. 1

Pleurobranchus weberi

 Goniobranchus aureopurpureus

 

Flabellina rubrolineata

 

Species List: 22-03-2017, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

7 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 22-03-2017.

Gary and Allan on this single shore entry dive, of 120 minutes. Maximum depth 6.3 m, 28 C water temperature and 1 to 2 m viz.

With all the rain we have had the visibility has dropped right off. The numbers of Nudibranchs we used to see has dropped off as well.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Atys semistriatus shell -1
* Flabellina rubrolineata -6
Goniobranchus daphne -4
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -3
Hypselodoris obscura -1
Pteraeolidia semperi -1
Tenellia sibogae -1

Goniobranchus daphne

Flabellina rubrolineata

The murky depths

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Tenellia sibogae

Goniobranchus daphne

Pteraeolidia semperi

Goniobranchus daphne

The marker

Flabellina rubrolineata

Atys semistriatus shell

Hypselodoris obscura

Species List: 18-03-2017, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

8 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 18-03-2017.

Gary and Elisha on this single shore entry dive, of 180 minutes. Maximum depth 6.2 m, 27 C water temperature and up to 5 m viz.

The large and numerous Flabellina rubrolineata of up to 60 mm, were again impressive and quite beautiful to observe. The current was almost non-exsitent and the viz was nice. I was quite happy to see Plakobranchus sp. Congratulations to Elisha for her first 180 minute dive!

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

* Flabellina rubrolineata -29
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus -2
Goniobranchus daphne -5
Goniodoridella savignyi -1
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -9
Hypselodoris obscura -10
Plakobranchus sp. 1 -1
Pteraeolidia semperi -6

Shore entry point

Elisha checking out the Fish Cage

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Flabellina rubrolineata a pair

Elisha and substrate matter

Flabellina rubrolineata

Flabellina rubrolineata

The substrate and Flabellina rubrolineata

The substrate and Flabellina rubrolineata

Goniobranchus aureopurpureus

Flabellina rubrolineata

Hypselodoris obscura

Goniobranchus aureopurpureus

Plakobranchus sp. 1

Plakobranchus sp. 1

Plakobranchus sp. 1

Goniodoridella savignyi 1-2 mm

Goniobranchus daphne

Goniobranchus daphne