29 species sighted at Fish Cage to Point Rock and back, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. 19-01-2023.
A single solo shore entry dive with Gary of 201 minutes, 1.5 m, maximum depth 5.6 m, 28 C water temperature, 1-4 m viz.
After a bit of rain the river turned brown, I did a GoPro drop yesterday and found the red bottom thinking of getting in! The fresh water layer on the surface made the ambient light yellow- orange. Up to 4 m vis proved fantastic. Finding the last specimens request from Marta, Naisdoris labalsaensis was a hit! Cratena lineata is on the come-back as well as Goniobranchus verrieri. Great dive! After the tide turned I was faced with a giant zero-vis dirty cloud heading towards me...off I went back to the stairs. When I surfaced I came up through a thermal-cline of fresh water that was hot!
Species and numbers recorded:
Cratena lineata -6
Dermatobranchus oculus -3
Doto sp. 3 -3
Facelina sp. 11 -1
Flabellina lotos -9
Flabellina pseudolotos -5
Goniobranchus collingwoodi -1
Goniobranchus daphne -15
Goniobranchus geometricus -4
Goniobranchus setoensis -1
Goniobranchus sp. 6 -1 with no face!
Goniobranchus verrieri -1
Goniodoridella undonta -6
Hypselodoris obscura -11
Hypselodoris sp. 10 -1
Idaliadoris maugeansis -6
Murphydoris aduusta -1
Murphydoris cobbi -23
Murphydoris puncticulata -1
Naisdoris labalsaensis -1 New name getting close...
Retusa amphizosta shell -1
Rostanga sp. 1 -2
Tenellia puellula -1
Tenellia sibogae (yellow) -8
Tenellia sp. 70 -9
Unidentia sp. 1 -21
Unidentia sp. 4 -2
Unidentia sp. 11 -4
Unidentia sp. 14 -6
GoPro entry and clarity
GoPro substrate upon drop
Surface
Substrate upon descent
Unidentia sp. 1
Unidentia sp. 4
Doto sp. 3
Unidentia sp. 14
Murphydoris cobbi
Murphydoris cobbi x2
Idaliadoris maugeansis
Idaliadoris maugeansis
Substrate under the fresh water layer
Goniobranchus daphne
Flabellina lotos
Goniobranchus geometricus
Dermatobranchus oculus
Dermatobranchus oculus
Retusa amphizosta
Murphydoris cobbi
Flatworm
Idaliadoris maugeansis spawn
Goniodoridella undonta
Dermatobranchus oculus
Doto sp. 3
The Ovulid
The Ovulids crab friend
Idaliadoris maugeansis
Tenellia sibogae
Tenellia sibogae
Doto sp. 3
Top float
Look up the sun
Flatworm
Unidentia sp. 4
Octopus
Goniobranchus geometricus
Unidentia sp. 1
Murphydoris puncticulata
Tenellia sp. 70 x2
Tenellia sp. 70
Flatworm
Tenellia puellula
Small juvenile Pineapple fish
Goniodoridella undonta
Cratena lineata
Flabellina pseudolotos
Flabellina lotos
Gothum City
Tenellia sp. 70
Tenellia sibogae
Whodat?
Substrate
Facelina sp. 11
Big cowrie
Naisdoris labalsaensis
Naisdoris labalsaensis
Rostanga sp. 1 spawn
A special friend
Cratena lineata
Flabellina lotos
Hypselodoris sp. 10
Hypselodoris sp. 10 gills with yellow spots
Goniobranchus collingwoodi
Seal Rock
Substrate
Goniobranchus setoensis
Goniobranchus sp. 6 with no face!
Goniobranchus verrieri
Fish Cage catch-all
End of the dive at tha stairs - a very hot fresh water layer
