A single shore entry dive by Gary and David of 132 minutes. Maximum depth 6.0 m, 21 C water temperature and up to 8 m viz.
Yesterday’s wind modelling for Wednesday on the Sunshine Coast kept changing every few hours so the instability led us to decide on a River dive rather than a boat trip. As to be expected the wrong call was made with virtual calm conditions prevailing nearly the whole day. Better safe than sorry - err on the side of caution. The River had excellent visibility and the current was manageable. The species count is starting to lift; a couple of bubble shells helping in that regard. The Chelidonura fulvipunctata was a pleasing find and proved very compliant for our lenses.
Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count
Atys semistriatus -1
Bulbaeolidia alba -1
Chelidonura fulvipunctata -1
Cratena lineata -4
Cratena simba -2
Dendrodoris denisoni -1
Facelina bourailli -1
Favorinus sp. 1 -1
Flabellina angelvaldesi -1
Flabellina rubrolineata -9
Goniobranchus daphne -3
Goniodoridella savignyi -2
* Goniodoridella sp. 1 -11+
Gymnodoris amakusanum -1
Hypselodoris obscura -5
Liloa sp. 1 -1
Tenellia sp. 23 -1
Tenellia sp. 24 -5
The site and conditions
Preparing for descent
Substrate
Goniodoridella savignyi
Flabellina angelvaldesi
Goniodoridella sp. 1
Gymnodoris amakusanum
Dendrodoris denisoni
Hypselodoris obscura
Bulbaeolidia alba
Chelidonura fulvipunctata - head shot,
note sensory bristles
Chelidonura fulvipunctata
Cratena lineata
Cratena simba
Facelina bourailli
Favorinus sp. 1
Flabellina rubrolineata - about
to consume a hydroid polyp
Goniobranchus daphne
Tenellia sp. 23
Tenellia sp. 24
