*Species List: 16-03-2022, Route 66, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.

 7 species sighted at Route 66, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. 16-03-2022.

A single solo shore entry morning with Gary of 138 minutes. Maximum depth 5.4 m, 27 C water temperature, 2 m+ viz.

This dive showed the water has improved, at least there is ambient light. Lots of particles in the water column. Basically the river is DEAD. All food sources are dead. Some fish about but what will they eat? Despite the dead river Bubble shells are there and great to hunt!  

It is so sad see this river in this state. That's nature and global warming at work...

Species and number thereof sighted

* Species with highest specimen count

Atys sp. 8 shell -1

Liloa brevis shell -7

Mnestia sp. 1 shell -1

Retusa amphizosta shell -2

Retusa planospira shell -1

Tornatina sp. 1 shell -3

Vellicolla amphorella shell -3

Entry

Clarity

Exit

Surface

Substrate

Substrate

Fish Cage inside railing debris

Top of Fish Cage dead

Substrate

Liloa brevis 

Liloa brevis 

Substrate dead rocks

Half bucket death

Vellicolla amphorella 

Mnestia sp. 1 

Dead Cowrie

Dead Cowrie

Dead Cowrie

Dead Cowrie

Tornatina sp. 1 with boarder

Debris

Atys sp. 8 

High Rise sponge dead

High Rise sponge dead

Retusa planospira 

Vellicolla amphorella

Retusa amphizosta

Tornatina sp. 1

Substrate

The Icon survives

More death

Exit time sunsetting

Latest News: 10-03-2022, Toilet Block, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.

 Latest News!

Today I received photos taken by Gerry Smith who lives in a high rise next to La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. She shot some photos of a "red thing" in the river. When I finished my dive yesterday she came up to me to tell of this discovery. I asked hey to email me photos and she did.

There is now a new record for the Mooloolah River, Hexabranchus sanguineus. Never in my wildest dreams did I think this species would show up in the river. This animal, which was swimming, appears to be around 300-400 mm.

What an extraordinary find!

*Species List: 09-03-2022, Toilet Block, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.

 6 species sighted at Toilet Block, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. 09-02-2022.

A single solo shore entry morning with Gary of 126 minutes. Maximum depth 4.8 m, 27 C water temperature, 2 m viz.

My last dive in the river was 21-02-2022 and then came the storm which caused massive flooding and runoff. For  little over 2 weeks the river substrate has been in total darkness due to massive amounts of particles in the water column. That plus the fresh water runoff has killed nearly everything in the river. During my 2 hour dive I found no live nudibranchs only bubble-shells. 

Species and number thereof sighted

* Species with highest specimen count

Haminoea sp. 19 shell -1

Liloa brevis shell -22

Roxaniella leucampyx shell -3

Tornatina sp. 1 shell -1

Unknown dead -1

Vellicolla amphorella shell -1

Entry

Making ready

Surface

Substrate upon descent

Unknown dead nudibranch

Substrate

Roxaniella leucampyx

Roxaniella leucampyx

Tornatina sp. 1

Liloa brevis

Liloa brevis

Roxaniella leucampyx

Vellicolla amphorella

Liloa brevis

Haminoea sp. 19

Dead corals

Substrate

Substrate

Substrate with large dead clam (4 were seen)

The tape and viz at about mid dive