Julie, Terry, Gary and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 68 minute and 1 x 77 minute dives in water depths from 13 m to 18 m. 15 m viz, 20 C water temp and a little surge.
Great conditions, a comfortable dive boat and wonderful dive companions - it’s as if all the planets have aligned - no excuse for not having a good time. We anchored a little to the south of our normal spot at this dive site and took advantage of the varied terrain offered. The species count is unremarkable but then it has been similar on both the Gneering Shoals and Currimundi Reef of late. The Ardeadoris sp. 2 came second in the specimen count being pipped by the Doriprismatica atromarginata. No surprises there. The former were found in slimes of four and five. The Goniobranchus leopardus is an infrequent and delightful find.
Number of each species sighted: 1st dive/2nd dive
* Species with highest specimen count
Aegires flores 1/-
Aegires gardineri 1/-
Ardeadoris rubroannulata 1/-
Ardeadoris sp. 2 9/2
Bornella anguilla -/3
Chromodoris elisabethina 3/2
Chromodoris kuiteri 2/1
Dermatobranchus ornatus -/1
* Doriprismatica atromarginata 8/20
Flabellina exoptata 1/1
Glossodoris vespa 4/2
Goniobranchus geometricus 1/-
Goniobranchus leopardus -/1
Goniobranchus splendidus -/4
Hexabranchus sanguineus 1/1
Hypselodoris jacksoni 3/4
Hypselodoris obscura 3/4
Phyllidia ocellata 1/1
Phyllidia picta 1/-
Phyllidia varicosa -/1
Phyllidiella lizae 2/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 3/2
Phyllodesmium magnum 1/-
Sagaminopteron ornatum 6/4
Tenellia sibogae 1/-
Thuridilla splendens 1/3
Tritoniopsis elegans -/4
Tylodina corticalis 3/1
Substrate - on top
Ardeadoris sp. 2 - a slime of five
Phyllidia picta
Hexabranchus sanguineus
Dermatobranchus ornatus
Goniobranchus leopardus
Getting into More Mischief
Surface conditions with Mt Coolum in background
Three quarters of The Team
Crevices, gullies and drop offs
Thuridilla splendens
Phyllodesmium magnum
Sagaminopteron ornatum
Phyllidiella pustulosa
Bornella anguilla
Tritoniopsis elegans - feeding pair
Tylodina corticalis - mating pair
Flabellina exoptata
Aegires flores
Hypselodoris jacksoni - mating pair
Aegires gardineri
Tenellia sibogae
Phyllidia varicosa
Doriprismatica atromarginata
Goniobranchus splendidus
Glossodoris vespa
Hypselodoris obscura