42 species sighted at Route 66 and back, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. 02-11-2023.
A single solo shore entry dive with Gary of 246 minutes. Maximum depth 6.1 m, 23 C water temperature, 2-4 m viz.
Ok so let's get in the river and have an epic outing...that I did. Due to off shore winds and swell the water column was stirred up vis 2-4 m. A new Niparaya species with lumps, three Come-back-species, Bulla sp. 1, Phyllodesmium opalescens and Tenellia sp. 59. Surprise! Phyllodesmium opalescens finally comes back, and to top it off two animals were found today! This is the first a Phyllodesmiun animal has been recorded since the Feb. 2022 floods, happiness prevails! Mnestia sp. 1 seemed to be everywhere! Yippee best dive since floods.
PS. The Pineapple fish, Ovulid and Eagle rays (Yes 2 now!) are still there!
Species and numbers recorded:
Bornella anguilla -1
Bulla sp. 1 -1 Come-back-species
Dermatobranchus sp. 7 -1
Doto racemosa -2
Doto sp. 3 -8
Elysia sp. 40 -6
Eubranchus sp. 3 -2
Eubranchus sp. 10 -2
Facelina bourailli -1
Facelina sp. 3 -1
Flabellina lotos -1
Flabellina pseudolotos -3
Goniobranchus albonares -1
Goniobranchus daphne -6
Goniobranchus geometricus -11
Goniobranchus setoensis -6
Goniobranchus sp. 6 -1
Goniodoridella savignyi -20
Gymnodoris sp. 13 -2
Hypselodoris obscura -5
Liloa brevis shell -2
Limacia ornata -1
Mnestia sp. 1 -25
Murphydoris cobbi -21
Murphydoris puncticulata -4
Myja sp. 1 -many young
Niparaya sp. 44 -1
Niparaya sp. 48 -1 NEW SPECIES
Philinopsis speciosa -1
Phyllodesmium opalescens -2 Come-back-species!
Placida kevinleei? -1
Pteraeolidia semperi -1
Retusa amphizosta shell -1
Rostanga sp. 1 -many young
Tenellia sibogae (yellow) -5
Tenellia sp. 23 -1
Tenellia sp. 24 -2
Tenellia sp. 59 -1 Come-back-species
Unidentia sp. 1 -9
Unidentia sp. 4 -1
Unidentia sp. 11 -3
Unidentia sp. 14 -20
Beautiful entry
Clarity
Surface
Substrate upon descent
Substrate
Elysia sp. 40 x3
Elysia sp. 40
Elysia sp. 40 spawn
Unidentia sp. 14
Unidentia sp. 4
Goniobranchus setoensis
Goniobranchus daphne
Phyllodesmium opalescens Come-back-species!
Phyllodesmium opalescens Come-back-species!
Phyllodesmium opalescens Come-back-species!
Goniobranchus daphne
Murphydoris puncticulata mating pair
Murphydoris cobbi
Mnestia sp. 1
Substrate
Murphydoris cobbi
Goniobranchus daphne
Doto sp. 3
Tenellia sp. 59 Come-back-species
Murphydoris cobbi x2
Goniobranchus geometricus
Niparaya sp. 44
Unidentia sp. 1
Eubranchus sp. 3
Tenellia sp. 24
Spawn
Doto sp. 3
Placida kevinleei?
Placida kevinleei?
The Ovulid
The Ovulid
Dermatobranchus sp. 7
Limacia ornata
Unidentia sp. 14
Tenellia sibogae
Unidentia sp. 1
Unidentia sp. 1
Tenellia sibogae
Flabellina pseudolotos
Hypselodoris obscura
Flatworm
Float float with new orange linecatching fluff
Substrate
Goniobranchus setoensis
Goniobranchus setoensis mating pair
Spawn
First Eagle Ray...
...then the second
the second
Hypselodoris obscura
Gothum City
Goniodoridella savignyi
Goniodoridella savignyi
Bornella anguilla
Bornella anguilla
Flabellina lotos
Goniobranchus geometricus
Murphydoris puncticulata
Goniobranchus setoensis
Eubranchus sp. 10
Eubranchus sp. 10
A star is born
My friend
Doto racemosa x2
Goniodoridella savignyi
Mnestia sp. 1
Seal Rock
Facelina sp. 3
Rostanga sp. 1
Mnestia sp. 1
Unidentia sp. 4
Goniobranchus albonares
Facelina bourailli
Red Crab
The Icon with sponge face
Mnestia sp. 1
Tenellia sibogae
Pteraeolidia semperi
Murphydoris puncticulata
Goniodoridella savignyi
Tie-off to check out Marker
New orange line!
Stoney
Goniobranchus geometricus x2
Tenellia sp. 23
Tenellia sibogae
Goniobranchus geometricus
Mnestia sp. 1
Retusa amphizosta
Niparaya sp. 48 NEW SPECIES
Niparaya sp. 48 NEW SPECIES
Niparaya sp. 48 NEW SPECIES
Niparaya sp. 48 NEW SPECIES
Niparaya sp. 48 NEW SPECIES
Goniobranchus sp. 6
Goniobranchus sp. 6
Tenellia sp. 24
Fish Cage gathering
Fish Cage gathering
Philinopsis speciosa
Bulla sp. 1 Come-back-species
Bulla sp. 1 Come-back-species
Gymnodoris sp. 13
Gymnodoris sp. 13
Elysia sp. 40
