Nudibranch Central: January 2023

Monday, January 30, 2023

Species List: 29-01-2023, Nudibranch Day Sunreef, Trench area, Gneering Shoals, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.

16 species sighted at Nudibranch Day Sunreef, Trench area, Gneering Shoals, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. 29-01-2023.

A double boat entry dive with Gary and David plus others of a 50 minute and 37 minute dive. Maximum depth 19.5 m, 24 C water temperature on bottom, warmer above that, up to 10-15 m viz.

To the Trench we were supposed to go but ended up in 20 m of water no surface current about 100 m to the south. After the first dive we headed to Shellacey Reef for a shallower dive only to find a ripping 3 knot surface current. Tried to get to the bow but no go. In that time the anchor line got caught in the prop. We then headed back to where the first dive was. Not a lot of species but some nice finds were had. One of the divers recorded a small blue with orange margin nudibranch. This looks like a new species of Nembrotha (an educated guess).

Species and numbers sighted:

Aegires citrinus -3

Chromodoris elisabethina -6

Chromodoris kuiteri -1

Dermatobranchus oculus -1

Dermatobranchus ornatus -1

Doriprismatica atromarginata -1

Elysia pusilla -1

Flabellina exoptata -1

Glossodoris vespa -1

Goniobranchus sp. 6 -1

Nembrotha sp. 3 -1 NEW SPECIES

Phyllidiella lizae -1

Phyllidiella pustulosa -2

Phyllidiopsis burni -1

Roboastra luteolineata -1

Thuridilla sp. 6 -1

Our ride

Surface

Substrate

Flabellina exoptata

Flatworm

Flatworm large

Dermatobranchus oculus

Dermatobranchus oculus right next to the anchor

Roboastra luteolineata

Aegires citrinus

Thuridilla sp. 6

Shoot

Surface

Look at this

Goniobranchus sp. 6

Flatworm

Chromodoris elisabethina

Chromodoris kuiteri

Elysia pusilla

Nembrotha sp. 3 NEW SPECIES

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Dermatobranchus oculus

Aegires citrinus

Thuridilla sp. 6

Phyllidiella pustulosa

Goniobranchus sp. 6

Chromodoris kuiteri

Phyllidiella lizae

Chromodoris elisabethina x2

Phyllidiopsis burni

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Species List: 20-01-2023, Toilet Block, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.

13 species sighted at Toilet Block, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. 20-01-2023.

A single shore entry dive with Gary, Sheryl and David of 255 minutes. Maximum depth 5.1 m, 26 C water temperature, up to 4 m viz.

It seemed like everyone wants to do a night dive today with a 1.3 m tidal flow off we went. Yes the 1.3 m tidal flow was flowing! It was great to see Toilet Block come back so nicely after 10 months since our last dive there. Tenellia species were really out in force. The pair of Tambja victoriae made a lot of happiness. Five come-back-species really set the evening!

Species and number thereof sighted:

Aglaja fulvipunctata -1

Carminodoris grandiflora -2 Come-back-species

Hypselodoris obscura -2

Kaloplocamus sp. 3 -1 Come-back-species

Liloa brevis shell -1

Plocamopherus ceylonicus -10 Come-back-species

Retusa amphizosta shell -1

Tambja victoriae -2 Come-back-species

Tenellia sp. 32 -12

Tenellia sp. 38 -1 Come-back-species

Tenellia sp. 44 -15