41 species sighted at Fish Cage to Rotunda end, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. 14-10-2021.
A single solo shore entry dive with Gary of 301 minutes. Maximum depth 5.8 m, 24 C water temperature, up to 8 m viz.
With rain coming it a good idea to jump in the river to see how it is going. I was quite surprised when the gang from Sunreef rocked up. Noyce! On top of that the water clarity had improved! Up to 8 m vis and since I got in 4 hours before 1.7 m high tide the current was very tame. This was another great dive with some species boasting the WOW factor. Two new species of Niparaya! This dive was EPIC!
Species and number thereof sighted
* Species with highest specimen count
Bulbaeolidia alba -1
Colpodaspis sp. 2 -9
Costasiella kuroshimae -4
Cratena lineata -17
Cratena simba -1
Cratena sp. 5 -1
Elysia sp. 11 -3
Facelina bourailli -1
Facelina sp. 11 -
Flabellina lotos -5
Goniobranchus daphne -23
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus -1
Goniobranchus geometricus -2
Goniobranchus setoensis -1
* Goniodoridella savignyi -31
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -19
Goniodoridella sp. 5 -1
Gymnodoris sp. 26 -1
Hypselodoris jacksoni -1
Hypselodoris obscura -19
Knoutsodonta maugeansis -many young
Limacia ornata -1
Liloa brevis shell -1
Lomanotus sp. 7 -1
Myja sp. 1 -many young
Niparaya sp. 29 -1 NEW SPECIES
Niparaya sp. 30 -1 NEW SPECIES
Okenia sp. 11 -1
Philinopsis speciosa -1
Phyllodesmium opalescens -4
Pleurobranchus peronii -1
Retusa amphizosta shell -2
Tenellia sp. 23 -1
Tenellia sp. 24 -2
Thuridilla carlsoni -3
Trapania scurra -1
Unidentia sp. 1 -17
Unidentia sp. 2 -1
Unidentia sp. 3 -3
Unidentia sp. 4 -2
Unidentia sp. 14 -3
Entry
Water clarity
Exit
Friends
Surface
Elysia sp. 11
Retusa amphizosta
Pleurobranchus peronii
Pleurobranchus peronii
Substrate
Goniodoridella savignyi
Goniodoridella sp. 1
Fish Cage
Flabellina lotos
Hypselodoris obscura bitten off piece
Substrate
Substrate
Substrate
Cratena sp. 5
Cratena sp. 5
Unidentia sp. 1
Thuridilla carlsoni
Goniobranchus daphne
Unidentia sp. 4
Hypselodoris obscura
Phyllodesmium opalescens x2
Phyllodesmium opalescens x2
Phyllodesmium opalescens egg mass
Cratena lineata
Unidentia sp. 1
Lamellaria
Knoutsodonta maugeansis many young
Hypselodoris obscura
Liloa brevis
Cratena lineata
Flabellina lotos
Costasiella kuroshimae
Lomanotus sp. 7
Hypselodoris obscura
Goniobranchus geometricus
Goniobranchus geometricus
Algae invading the river
Niparaya sp. 29 NEW SPECIES
Niparaya sp. 29 NEW SPECIES
Niparaya sp. 29 NEW SPECIES
Retusa amphizosta
Substrate
Phyllodesmium opalescens x2
Phyllodesmium opalescens x2
Hypselodoris obscura
Goniodoridella sp. 1 x2
Facelina bourailli
Gymnodoris sp. 26
Cratena simba
Limacia ornata
Elysia sp. 11
Costasiella kuroshimae
Unidentia sp. 14 x2
Unidentia sp. 4
Hypselodoris jacksoni
Hypselodoris jacksoni
Hypselodoris jacksoni
Niparaya sp. 30 NEW SPECIES
Niparaya sp. 30 NEW SPECIES
Niparaya sp. 30 NEW SPECIES
Niparaya sp. 30 NEW SPECIES
Bulbaeolidia alba
Tenellia sp. 24 x2
Unidentia sp. 14
Trapania scurra
Trapania scurra
Trapania scurra
Seal Rock
Goniodoridella sp. 5
Okenia sp. 11
Goniodoridella sp. 1 mating
looking up
Substrate
Snail
Goniobranchus daphne
Colpodaspis sp. 2
Colpodaspis sp. 2
Colpodaspis sp. 2
Philinopsis speciosa
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus
Tenellia sp. 23
Goniobranchus setoensis
Substrate photo-bombed
...upon exiting
