Species List: 28-10-2017, Wobby Rock, Outer Gneerings, off Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

33 species sighted at Wobby Rock, Outer Gneerings, off Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland 28-10-2017.

Julie, Terry, Gary and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 77 minute and 1 x 72 minute dives in water depths from 15 m to 18 m. 17 m viz, 23 C water temp and no surge.

Wobby Rock is a site we haven’t visited for about 6 months. The last visit was a single dive only with the usual second dive passed up due to the exceptionally powerful surge we experienced (actually dislodged the anchor). Totally different conditions greeted us on this excursion with no surge at all down at 16 metres. We all had the impression that not many species were around until we tallied up what the whole team had seen. Some species such as Aegires villosus, Dendrodoris sp. 4, Hypselodoris emma, Hypselodoris godeffroyana, Marionia cyanobranchiata, Mexichromis macropus, Tenellia sp. 6 and Tenellia sp. 40 (formerly Phestilla) were good finds, not often sighted.

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

Aegires villosus -/3
Ardeadoris rubroannulata 1/2
Ardeadoris sp. 2 1/-
Berthella martensi 1/-
Bornella anguilla 1/1
Chromodoris elisabethina 4/3
Chromodoris kuiteri 1/-
Chromodoris sp. 1 -/1
Cratena lineata -/2
Dendrodoris sp. 4 -/1
* Doriprismatica atromarginata 4/8
Goniobranchus geometricus 1/-
Goniobranchus roboi 1/-
Goniobranchus splendidus 4/1
Hexabranchus sanguineus -/1
Hypselodoris emma -/1
Hypselodoris godeffroyana -/1
Hypselodoris jacksoni 2/3
Hypselodoris maculosa -/1
Hypselodoris marítima 1/-
Hypselodoris obscura 3/2
Hypselodoris sagamiensis 1/-
Jorunna sp. 3 -/1
Marionia cyanobranchiata 2/-
Mexichromis macropus 1/-
Phyllidia ocellata 1/-
Phyllidia varicosa 2/2
Phyllidiella lizae 1/2
Phyllidiella pustulosa 2/2
Roboastra luteolineata 1/-
Tenellia sp. 6 1/1
Tenellia sp. 40 2/-
Thuridilla splendens 3/3

Berthella martensi

Hypselodoris maculosa

Hypselodoris godeffroyana

Hypselodoris jacksoni 

Jorunna sp. 3

Hypselodoris emma

Mexichromis macropus

Aegires villosus

Hypselodoris emma

Surface conditions

Substrate

Marionia cyanobranchiata - rhinophore detail

Goniobranchus splendidus

Roboastra luteolineata

Substrate

Ardeadoris rubroannulata

Goniobranchus roboi

Thuridilla splendens

Chromodoris elisabethina - light coloured

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Aegires villosus

Aegires villosus

Phyllidiella pustulosa

Hexabranchus sanguineus

Cratena lineata

Marionia cyanobranchiata

Marionia cyanobranchiata - details of 

rhinophores & velar processes

Goniobranchus geometricus

Chromodoris elisabethina

Tenellia sp. 40 - juvenile

Tenellia sp. 40 - adult

Dendrodoris sp. 4

Bornella anguilla

Ardeadoris rubroannulata

Species List: 27-10-2017, downstream from the Caloundra Coast Guard boat ramp, Pumicestone Passage, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, Qld

8 species sighted downstream from the Caloundra Coast Guard boat ramp, Pumicestone Passage, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 27-10-2017.

A single shallow shore entry dive by Julie, Terry, Gary and David of 90 minutes. Maximum depth 3.0 m, 23 C  water temperature and up to 2 m viz.

It has been quite awhile since we have dived the Pumicestone Passage. The tidal changes over the past week have seen the runoff from the earlier heavy rains clear up. The strong wind helped in that it reduced the boating traffic in the passage. There are some seagrass areas on the slope down to the channel that deserve a closer look however this time we explored the shallows and jetty pylons.  The silt under some of the jetties and pontoons is very fine and thick and some large stonefish were observed buried with just their mouths exposed. The run in tidal flow continued for at least an hour and a half longer than we expected.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Elysia maoria -1
* Goniobranchus daphne -3
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -2
* Hypselodoris obscura -3
Phyllodesmium opalescens -1
* Pteraeolidia semperi -3
Tenellia sp. 29 -1
Tenellia sp. 32 -2

Predive discussion

The site

Pteraeolidia semperi

Tenellia sp. 32

Substrate under a jetty

Goniobranchus daphne

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Hypselodoris obscura

Phyllodesmium opalescens

Tenellia sp. 29

Elysia maoria

Species List: 13-10-2017, Coles Hole, Gneering Shoals, off Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

41 species sighted at Coles Hole, Gneering Shoals, off Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland
13-10-2017

Julie, Terry, Gary and David on this excursion consisting of 2 x 61 minute dives in water depths from 16 m to 21 m. 15 m viz, 21 C water temp and no surge.

Although it was a little lumpy on the trip out almost perfect surface conditions (apart from a little surface current) existed by the time we entered the water. We were all in our semi-dry suits and with the water at depth being a little cooler than the shallower dives around the island and in the river we certainly felt its effect. This is a site that has a variety of topography that no doubt usually contributes to the finding of a reasonable number of sea slugs. Finds worthy of a mention include: Goniobranchus sp. 1, Goniobranchus roboi, Favorinus japonicus, Doris sp. 1 and Chromodoris burni. There are two specimens of Dermatobranchus that have us scratching our heads a little. Whilst at first glance they seem similar to species we have recorded previously a closer reading of Dermatobranchus descriptions have us reviewing and rethinking some of our identifications.

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

Aegires flores -/1
Ardeadoris sp. 2 1/3
Bornella anguilla -/2
Cadlinella ornatissima 1/-
Ceratosoma tenue 1/-
Chelidonura inornata 3/-
Chromodoris burni 1/-
Chromodoris elisabethina 2/7
Chromodoris kuiteri 1/1
Chromodoris sp. 1 4/1
Chromodoris sp. 3 -/1
Chromodoris striatella -/1
Chromodoris strigata 1/1
Dermatobranchus ornatus 1/-
Dermatobranchus semilunus 1/1
Dermatobranchus sp. 8 1/1
Diversidoris sp. 1 1/-
* Doriprismatica atromarginata 6/14
Doris sp. 1 1/-
Favorinus japonicus 3/-
Flabellina rubrolineata 1/-
Glossodoris vespa 1/2
Goniobranchus kuniei -/2
Goniobranchus roboi -/1
Goniobranchus splendidus 1/2
Goniobranchus sp. 1 -/1
Hypselodoris jacksoni 3/2
Hypselodoris maculosa -/2
Hypselodoris obscura -/1
Hypselodoris tryoni -/1
Roboastra luteolineata 4/1
Phyllidia ocellata -/1
Phyllidiella lizae -/2
Phyllidiella pustulosa 2/4
Phyllidiopsis burni 1/-
Sagaminopteron ornatum -/1
Tenellia sp 44 -/2
Thuridilla carlsoni 1/-
Thuridilla splendens 3/5
Tylodina corticalis -/2
Verconia simplex -/1

Discussing the destination

Glossodoris vespa

Coral cover

Phyllidiopsis burni

Dermatobranchus sp. 8

Thuridilla splendens

Doris sp. 1

Chelidonura inornata

Tenellia sp 44 - a pair

Bornella anguilla

Goniobranchus splendidus

Goniobranchus kuniei

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Surface conditions

Commencing the search

Chromodoris elisabethina

Chromodoris sp. 1

Looking along the edge of the ridge

Chromodoris strigata

Cadlinella ornatissima

Phyllidiella lizae

Tylodina corticalis

Sagaminopteron ornatum

Chromodoris sp. 3

Hypselodoris obscura

Goniobranchus roboi

Goniobranchus sp. 1

Hypselodoris maculosa

Verconia simplex

Diversidoris sp. 1

Favorinus japonicus - feeding on opisthobranch 

spawn (possibly Marionia)

Ardeadoris sp. 2

Chromodoris burni

Hypselodoris jacksoni

Chromodoris strigata

Chromodoris kuiteri

Roboastra luteolineata

Dermatobranchus semilunus 

Dermatobranchus semilunus