Julie, Terry, Gary and David on this excursion consisting of a first dive at NW Reef, Old Woman Island of 103 minutes in water depths from 10 m to 13 m, 5 m viz, 26 C water temp with a little surge and a second dive at The Wall, Old Woman Island of 84 minutes in water depths from 5 m to 16 m, 5 m viz, 26 C water temp with a little surge in the shallower parts.
Both sites appeared more silty than usual so perhaps this is responsible for a downturn in species number, apart from the hardy “usual suspects”, given that four divers were searching during long dives and two sites were visited. The only uncommon species sighted was the goniodorid - Trapania vitta. The second site did prove more productive with 17 species found compared to 11 from the other side of the island.
Number of each species sighted: 1st dive/2nd dive
* Species with highest specimen count 1st dive
** Species with highest specimen count 2nd dive
Chromodoris elisabethina -/1
Chromodoris kuiteri 4/6
Chromodoris striatella 1/-
Dermatobranchus sp. 7 1/1
Doriprismatica atromarginata 3/9
Glossodoris vespa -/1
* Goniobranchus splendidus 10/1
Gymnodoris alba -/1
Jorunna sp. 3 -/1
Mariaglaja inornata -/1
Phyllidia coelestis 1/1
Phyllidia elegans -/4
Phyllidia ocellata -/3
Phyllidiella lizae 1/2
Phyllidiella pustulosa 1/6
** Pteraeolidia semperi -/21
Sagaminopteron ornatum 3/-
Thuridilla splendens 4/9
Trapania vitta 1/-
Tritoniopsis elegans -/4
Chromodoris kuiteri
Goniobranchus splendidus
Trapania vitta
Chromodoris striatella - super teeny tiny
Thuridilla splendens - anterior aspect
Phyllidia ocellata
Doriprismatica atromarginata - a slime
Phyllidia elegans
Gymnodoris alba
Chromodoris elisabethina
Dermatobranchus sp. 7
The dive platform
Looking south east to the island
from the first site
Substrate
Sagaminopteron ornatum
Pteraeolidia semperi - large numbers
on the sand at the base of the wall
Glossodoris vespa
Looking north east to the island
from the second site
Thuridilla splendens - a common
species at the island
Doriprismatica atromarginata
Tritoniopsis elegans
Phyllidiella pustulosa
Phyllidiella lizae
A slime of Phyllidiella pustulosa
Jorunna sp. 3
Substrate showing soft and hard corals
Tritoniopsis elegans - showing high rhinophore
sheaths and pulpit-type rhinophores
