3 species sighted at Fish Cage to Point Rock and back, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. 07-04-2025.
A single solo shore entry dive with Gary of 89 minutes, 1.2 m, maximum depth 4.8 m, 26 C water temperature, up to 3 m viz.
After a few days for rain and swell, the river had no ambient ligh on the bottom for 4-5 days. I was worried that fresh water might have reached the bottom, I was right. Everything on the bottom has died except a lot of Murphydoris cobbi, two Cratena pawarshindeorum and one Murphydoris puncticulata. On March 29 I witnessed hundreds and hundreds of Cratena pawarshindeorum... WOW how sad. The Gorgonians, sponges and corals are all dead as well as some fairly large shelled animals. There was also a lot of silt and particulate in the water column.
On a more positive note, I was very happy to see Murphydoris cobbi thriving and mating and laying eggs.
A new slate is presented...
Species and numbers recorded:
Cratena pawarshindeorum -2
Murphydoris cobbi -48
Murphydoris puncticulata -1
Entry
Clarity
Surface
Substrate upon descent
Murphydoris cobbi
Murphydoris cobbi
Murphydoris puncticulata
Murphydoris puncticulata
Murphydoris cobbi
Pockets of silt
The pipe
Murphydoris cobbi
Substrate
Dead soft coral?
Dead hyroids
Murphydoris cobbi laying spawn
Dead shelled animal
Murphydoris cobbi
Lots of fish looking for food
Dead hydroids
Cratena pawarshindeorum
Dead Gorgonians
Dead Gorgonians
Cratena pawarshindeorum
Gothum City
Dead soft coral?
Murphydoris cobbi
Murphydoris cobbi
Murphydoris cobbi x3
Dead Gorgonians
Seal Rock
Dead shelled animal
Dead sponge
A large unknown egg mass - who did that??