COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS

Another quiet morning for the launch at the La Balsa Park boat ramp in the Mooloolah River. 9/10 surface conditions on the fast trip south to Currimundi Reef. Visibility was not quite as good as last week. The water looked a little green from the surface and was full of particulate matter until we were on the bottom where it opened up to about 10 m. No equipment failures on this excursion and many sea slugs were evident to record. The forecast NE wind strengthening was just starting as we entered the water for our second dive. We were finding so many sea slugs we had to tear ourselves away a little early in case the surface conditions had deteriorated further. Very choppy conditions almost head-on were experienced on the return run up the coast making for a slow and pounding trip. Among the long list of sea slugs recorded there are some stand-outs including: Crimora edwardsi and Tritoniopsis sp.

Taxonomic Diversity:
Thirty of the thirty-one sighted species were nudibranchs, with 19 being dorids comprising 4 x phanerobranchs (non-retractile gill), 3 x porostomes (suctorial feeder), 12 x cryptobranchs (retractable gill – all 12 belonging to the Chromodorididae family) and 11 were cladobranchs comprising 5 x aeolids, 4 x arminids and 2 x dendronotinids. A single cephalaspidean (headshield slug) completes the species count. A total of 58 specimens were recorded. If diet is considered 17 of the 31 species are spongivores.

Our Historical Data:
– This excursion brings the number of survey dives to 124 at this site since we commenced fully recording data here on 26/07/2009.
– This site last surveyed on 26/08/2026.
The balance of the Historical Data – TBA.

Key to symbols
+++ New Species
+ First time sighted at this site
# Most commonly sighted at this site with %

TOTAL SPECIES SIGHTED: 31 (20/17)

DIVE IMAGES GALLERY

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