20 species sighted at Route 66, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. 28-03-2023.
A single solo shore entry dive with Gary of 286 minutes. Maximum depth 5.6 m, 28 C water temperature, 0 to 6 m viz.
More rain set to come so off I went. A 1.1 m tidal flow was so strange. I git in just after low tide and got one metre of vis that's OK. I made my way up-river to get to Split-rock. That's when the "Blob" engulfed me! Dirty brown and dark so I turned around and headed down river where soon I cleared up to 6 m. After the turn of the tide as I approached the area of the marker the "Blob" swallowed me up, near darkness and no vision worthy of my camera. So out I went. I did manage 2 new species and 1 come-back-species. Seeing Goniobranchus geometricus again in the river was the highlight! And that Niparaya with a black foot. The Pleurobranchus were gone.
Species and numbers sighted:
Atys semistriatus shell -1
Doto sp. 3 -2
Eubranchus sp. 10 -1
Facelina sp. 11 -1
Facelina sp. 20 -1 NEW SPECIES
Goniobranchus geometricus -1 COME-BACK-SPECIES
Goniodoridella savignyi -3
Gymnodoris sp. 4 -1
Hypselodoris obscura -4
Liloa brevis shell -3
Lomanotus vermiformis -5
Murphydoris cobbi -25
Myja sp. 1 -Many young
Niparaya sp. 11 -1
Niparaya sp. 42 -1 NEW SPECIES
Pleurobranchus peronii -Many young
Retusa amphizosta shell -2
Rostanga sp. 1 -Many young
Unidentia sp. 1 -5
Unidentia sp. 3 -2
Entry
Clarity
Exit
Surface
Substrate upon descent
Fish Cage ornaments
Murphydoris cobbi
Liloa brevis
Facelina sp. 20 NEW SPECIES
Facelina sp. 20 NEW SPECIES
Facelina sp. 20 NEW SPECIES
Facelina sp. 20 NEW SPECIES
Facelina sp. 20 NEW SPECIES
Facelina sp. 20 NEW SPECIES
Facelina sp. 20 NEW SPECIES
Substrate
Murphydoris cobbi
Facelina sp. 11
Corals
The Pipe
Murphydoris cobbi x2
Goniodoridella savignyi
Substrate
Doto sp. 3
Niparaya sp. 11
Unidentia sp. 1
Hypselodoris obscura
Hypselodoris obscura
A tiny Murphydoris cobbi
Unidentia sp. 1 many young
Unidentia sp. 1
Lomanotus vermiformis
Lomanotus vermiformis
Unknown egg mass
Lomanotus vermiformis x2
Hypselodoris obscura mating pair
Substrate
Doto sp. 3
Unidentia sp. 3
Gymnodoris sp. 4
Substrate
Goniodoridella savignyi
Flatworm
Goniobranchus geometricus COME-BACK-SPECIES
Goniobranchus geometricus COME-BACK-SPECIES
Niparaya sp. 42 NEW SPECIES
Niparaya sp. 42 NEW SPECIES
Niparaya sp. 42 NEW SPECIES
Niparaya sp. 42 NEW SPECIES
Niparaya sp. 42 NEW SPECIES
Rostanga sp. 1 Many young
Rostanga sp. 1 Many young
yja sp. 1 Many young
Substrate
Substrate
Hydroid
Pleurobranchus peronii Many young
Eubranchus sp. 10
Seal Rock
Flatworm
Substrate
Flatworm
The Icon
Atys semistriatus
Hypselodoris obscura