COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS

After great success at Horseshoe Bay on the last dive, we decided to check out Rose Bay to see how things are faring at this site. The northerly breeze made a small chop which resulted in slight surge in the shallows. This was where we found our first 3 species in less than 2 m of water. With critters less than 5 mm long, it made photography rather challenging. We headed out along the northern wall and across the reef. A slight northerly current influenced our decision to continue east, rather than go north, to avoid having to swim back against it. This meant we explored a different area of reef and were surprised by the diversity of critters we encountered.

Hypselodoris bullockii were the most dominant species encountered, with 5 found under one piece of rubble. Most specimens were small though, similar to what we found at Horseshoe Bay. As we headed back, reluctantly, we swam over a patch of sea grass and found a rock covered in Caulerpa taxifolia, Sargassum sp. and other assorted algae. This is where Terry found the large Aplysia argus as it sauntered from behind some Sargassum. Deciding there had to be something interesting on this rock we scoured the algae and were pleased when Julie found the Oxynoe viridis feasting on the Caulerpa. This was one of those dives where you wish you had more air.

Taxonomic Diversity:
Sixteen of the nineteen species sighted were nudibranchs, fourteen being dorids comprising 6 x porostome (suctorial feeders), 2 x phanerobranchs (non-retractile gill), 6 x cryptobranch (retractable gill); and two cladobranch comprising 2 x aeolids, 0 x arminids and 0 x dendronotinids.. A single sacoglossan, a single Aplysia (Sea Hare) and one headshield slug completes the count. A total of 53 specimens were sighted.

Our Historical data:
– We have now completed 13 survey dives at this site since our first survey here on 21/11/2022.
– We have now recorded 57 species at this site.
– Our most commonly recorded species at this site are Gymnodoris sp. 26 (67%), Elysia sp. 31 (50%), Jorunna funebris (42%) and Gymnodoris citrina (42%).
– The most prevalent species we record here are Haloa sp. 02 (2.6 per dive), Gymnodoris sp. 26 (2.5 per dive), Hypselodoris bullockii (2.0 per dive) and Elysia sp. 31 (1.1 per dive).
– This is the first occasion on which we have recorded Oxynoe viridis in the Whitsundays and the first occasion on which we have recorded Aplysia argus, Goniobranchus cf. splendidus, Hypselodoris emma, Murphydoris cobbi, Phyllidia guamensis, Phyllidiella annulata, Phyllidiella sp. c or Samla sp. 01 at this site.
– Our last survey at this site was on 25/04/2025

Guide to Symbols:
+++ New Species
+ First time sighted in Whitsundays
# Most commonly sighted at this site with %

TOTAL SPECIES SIGHTED: 19

DIVE IMAGES GALLERY

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