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

Substrate

Flabellina exoptata

Flatworm

Flatworm large

Dermatobranchus oculus

Dermatobranchus oculus right next to the anchor

Roboastra luteolineata

Aegires citrinus

Aegires citrinus

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

Nembrotha sp. 3  NEW SPECIES

Nembrotha sp. 3  NEW SPECIES

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


Friday, January 27, 2023

Species List: 27-01-2023, Fish Cage, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.

 14 species sighted at Route 66, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. 27-01-2023.

A single shore entry dive with Gary, Fran and Nevar of 187 minutes. Maximum depth 6.0 m, 27-28 C water temperature, up to 6 m viz.

After some 30+ degree days the water temp today was really a balmy 28 degrees, very cush! The largest dorid nudibranch, after the floods, was recorded today at 60 mm Dendrodoris denisoni.

Species and number thereof sighted:

Dendrodoris arborescens -3
Dendrodoris denisoni -1
Goniodoridella savignyi -3
Gymnodoris sp. 26 -1
Haminoea sp. 18 shell -1
Hypselodoris obscura -1
Liloa brevis shell -3
Limacia ornata -3
Murphydoris cobbi -5
Plocamopherus ceylonicus -8
Retusa sp. 6 shell -1
Retusa sp. 9 shell -1
Roxaniella leucampyx shell -1
Tenellia sp. 24 -6

Entry

Clarity

Stuff

Surface

Making ready

Substrate upon descent

Te!mp

Gymnodoris sp. 26 

Roxaniella leucampyxv

Plocamopherus ceylonicus

Dendrodoris arborescens

Plocamopherus ceylonicus

Dendrodoris arborescens x2

Dendrodoris arborescens

Hypselodoris obscura

Limacia ornata 

Limacia ornata 

Retusa sp. 9

Liloa brevis

Limacia ornata 

Limacia ornata 

Retusa sp. 6

Substrate

Substrate

Hello!

Murphydoris cobbi 

Murphydoris cobbi x2

Egg mass

Goniodoridella savignyi

Flatworm

Liloa brevis

Tenellia sp. 24

Tenellia sp. 24

Goniodoridella savignyi x2

Dendrodoris denisoni

Dendrodoris denisoni size 60 mm

Dendrodoris denisoni

Dendrodoris denisoni

Dendrodoris denisoni

Dendrodoris denisoni

Haminoea sp. 18

Snails

Tenellia sp. 24 

Flatworm

Gymnodoris sp. 26 

Gymnodoris sp. 26