Thursday, May 31, 2018

Species List: 30-05-2018, Coles Hole, Gneering Shoals, off Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld.

36 species sighted at Coles Hole, Gneering Shoals, off Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 30-05-2018.

Julie, Terry, Gary and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 71 minute and 1 x 67 minute dives in water depths from 16 m to 20 m. 20 m viz, 22 C water temp and some surge.

Superb surface conditions were enjoyed on this excursion out to the Gneering Shoals. It’s not quite winter yet however the surface conditions and visibility belied the date. On the other hand we are all in our drysuits enjoying the comfort and concentration they provide. We have had a number of low species counts of late but today it ramped up. Finds of note include: Tenellia sp. 6, Hypselodoris sp. 2, Dermatobranchus sp. 5 and Verconia laboutei, not to mention the Gymnodoris alba consuming the Tenellia sp. 6. To top it all off a new Eubranchus species was also found - our Eubranchus sp. 15.

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

Aegires flores -/3
Ardeadoris rubroannulata 1/-
Bulbaeolidia alba 1/-
* Chromodoris elisabethina 4/8
Chromodoris kuiteri 1/1
Cratena lineata 1/-
Cratena simba 1/-
Dermatobranchus rodmani -/1
Dermatobranchus sp. 5 -/1
Doriprismatica atromarginata 3/5
Eubranchus sp. 15 1/-
Goniobranchus geometricus 2/1
Goniobranchus kuniei 1/-
Goniobranchus rufomaculatus 1/-
Gymnodoris alba 1/-
Hypselodoris godeffroyana 1/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni 1/-
Hypselodoris maculosa 1/1
Hypselodoris obscura 2/2
Hypselodoris sagamiensis -/1
Hypselodoris sp. 2 -/1
Hypselodoris whitei -/5
Mexichromis trilineata 1/-
Phyllidia varicosa -/1
Phyllidiella lizae 1/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 2/2
Sagaminopteron psychedelicum 1/1
Tenellia sp. 6 2/-
Tenellia sp. 33 1/-
Thuridilla carlsoni -/1
Thuridilla splendens 3/3
Tritoniopsis elegans 2/-
Tyrannodoris luteolineata 1/-
Verconia laboutei -/1
Verconia romeri -/1
Verconia simplex 1/1

Verconia simplex

Goniobranchus geometricus

Hypselodoris godeffroyana

Thuridilla splendens

Gymnodoris alba consuming Tenellia sp. 6

Verconia laboutei

Substrate

Goniobranchus kuniei 

Tenellia sp. 6

Ardeadoris rubroannulata

Tritoniopsis elegans

Aegires flores 

Hypselodoris sp. 2

Verconia romeri

Sagaminopteron psychedelicum

Dermatobranchus sp. 5

Chromodoris kuiteri

Goniobranchus geometricus - mantle flapping

Our ride and dive platform

Hovering diver

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Tyrannodoris luteolineata

Hypselodoris obscura

Tenellia sp. 33

Bulbaeolidia alba

Chromodoris elisabethina

Cratena lineata

Cratena simba

Surface conditions - no spilt tea

Hypselodoris maculosa

The hole at Coles Hole

Eubranchus sp. 15




Species List: 29-05-2018, Wobby Rock, Gneering Shoals, off Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld.

9 species sighted at Wobby Rock, Gneering Shoals, off Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 29-05-2018.

Terry and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 68 minute dive in water depths from 15 m to 20 m. 20 m viz, 23 C water temp and some moderate surge.

The promise of good surface conditions did not eventuate in fact the seas were so confused that it was difficult to stand up in the boat. We decided against a second dive especially since that after over an hour’s search we turned up very few species.

Number of each species sighted:
* Species with highest specimen count

Doriprismatica atromarginata -1
Goniobranchus splendidus -1
Hexabranchus sanguineus -1
* Hypselodoris godeffroyana -2
Phyllidiella lizae -1
Phyllidiella pustulosa -1
Phyllidiopis burni -1
Thorunna daniellae -1
Verconia simplex -1

Hypselodoris godeffroyana - a trailing pair

Verconia simplex

Thorunna daniellae

Phyllidiopis burni

Hexabranchus sanguineus - juvenile

Saturday, May 26, 2018

Species List: 25-05-2018, Fish Cage, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld.

9 species sighted at Fish Cage, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 25-05-2018.

A single shore entry night dive by Gary and Chris of 151 minutes. Maximum depth 6.2 m, 22C water temperature and up to 4 m viz.

With storms and rain imminent and the river profiler digging up the river bottom we chose to dive Fish Cage. The numbers of Unidentia sp. were high...a come-back? Finding Goniodoridella sp. 6 was a nice find. Cratena lineata seems to be making a come-back as well.

Species and number thereof sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Cratena lineata 9
Eubranchus sp. 10 11
Flabellina rubrolineata 13
Goniobranchus daphne 1
Goniobranchus decorus 1
Goniodoridella sp. 1 4
Goniodoridella sp. 6 1
Pleurobranchus peronii 1
* Unidentia sp. 5 44

Entry with profiler in the background

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Flabellina rubrolineata

Unidentia sp. 5

Cratena lineata

Unidentia sp. 5

Cratena lineata

Cratena lineata

Cratena lineata

Flabellina rubrolineata

Unidentia sp. 5

Unidentia sp. 5

Eubranchus sp. 10 three animals

Eubranchus sp. 10 with egg mass

Unidentia sp. 5

Goniobranchus decorus

Unidentia sp. 5 pair

Unidentia sp. 5

Goniobranchus daphne

Eubranchus sp. 10 pair

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Goniodoridella sp. 1 with egg mass

Goniodoridella sp. 6

Goniodoridella sp. 6

Goniodoridella sp. 6