Julie, Terry, Gary and David on this excursion consisting of 2 dives:
The first dive x 70 minutes at Big Frog (near C Spot) in water depths from 18 m to 21 m, 18 m viz, 25 C water temp and some surge.
The second dive x 75 minutes at TJ’s Boulders in water depths from 15 m to 20 m, 10 m viz, 26 C water temp and some surge.
We departed from Mooloolah River and headed south to the dive sites rather than risk returning over the Caloundra bar at the bottom of the tide. Surface conditions were ideal and the visibility was also pleasing. At Big Frog we sighted 18 species and at TJs’ Boulders 26. The Goniobranchus kuniei and Ardeadoris rubroannulata, both at TJ’s, made excellent photographic subjects. The single Marionia cyanobranchiata, at Big Frog, was brazenly cruising around the substrate out in the open. The Big Frog site was named after a very large Frog Fish found in a crevice lying in ambush for unsuspecting prey to pass and be enticed closer by its lure. The usually ubiquitous Doriprismatica atromarginata won the abundance count but they were only sighted at TJ's. None were to been seen further out at Big Frog.
Number of each species sighted: 1st dive/2nd dive
* Species with highest specimen count
Ardeadoris rubroannulata -/1
Bornella anguilla -/2
Chromodoris elisabethina -/2
Chromodoris kuiteri -/1
* Dermatobranchus ornatus 5/1
Dermatobranchus rodmani 1/-
* Doriprismatica atromarginata -/12
Flabellina exoptata 1/-
Flabellina rubrolineata 2/3
Flabellina sp. 1 -/1
Glossodoris vespa 1/2
Goniobranchus daphne -/1
Goniobranchus geometricus 1/-
Goniobranchus kuniei -/2
Goniobranchus splendidus -/3
Goniobranchus sp. 6 2/-
Goniodoridella savignyi 1/-
Gymnodoris alba 1/-
Hypselodoris emma 1/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni 1/7
Hypselodoris maritima 1/2
Hypselodoris obscura -/2
Jorunna sp. 3 1/-
Marionia cyanobranchiata 1/-
Phyllidia ocellata -/2
Phyllidia picta -/1
Phyllidia varicosa -/1
Phyllidiella lizae 2/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 1/3
Phyllidopsis burni -/1
Pteraeolidia semperi -/2
Sagaminopteron ornatum -/1
Tenellia sibogae -/1
Tenellia sp. 34 1/-
Tylodina corticalis -/1
Tyrannodoris luteolineata 1/2
Goniobranchus geometricus
Portrait of a rhinophore -
Marionia cyanobranchiata
Goniodoridella savignyi
Gymnodoris alba
Hypselodoris maritima
Flabellina rubrolineata
Goniobranchus kuniei
Tyrannodoris luteolineata
Hypselodoris jacksoni
Glossodoris vespa
Dermatobranchus ornatus
Phyllidia ocellata
Tenellia sibogae
Chromodoris elisabethina
Goniobranchus splendidus
Our ride
Substrate
Phyllidiella pustulosa
Marionia cyanobranchiata
Phyllidiella lizae
Jorunna sp. 3
Substrate
Goniobranchus sp. 6
Doriprismatica atromarginata
Pteraeolidia semperi
Ardeadoris rubroannulata
Phyllidia picta
Flabellina sp. 1
