COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS

A brief window of opportunity arose so we headed off to Rose Bay. With not much tidal range (1.6m low to 1.9m high) we entered the water about 2 hours before high tide. We walked almost half way to the reef as it was so shallow but this meant less swimming. Whilst we took our bigger tanks today it turned out we did not need them as the critters were very scarce. We made it to an interesting patch of reef with lots of spaghetti coral and sea fans (mostly sad with silt on them) but lots of healthy hard coral. We found the Jorunna funebris on the way out, followed shortly after by the Phyllidia varicosa, then nothing for the next 90+ minutes.

The water temperature has dropped quickly from 27 C about 2 weeks ago down to 24 C. Visibility was acceptable although it is still cloudy, most likely from the continual strong SE winds we have had.

Taxonomic Diversity:
Three of the four species sighted were nudibranchs, all being dorids comprising 1 x porostome (suctorial feeders), 1 x phanerobranch (non-retractile gill), 1 x cryptobranch (retractable gill); and nil cladobranchs comprising 0 x aeolids, 0 x arminids and 0 x dendronotinids. A single headshield slug completes the sightings. A total of 4 specimens were sighted. If diet is considered, two of the four were spongivores.

Our Historical data:
– We have now completed 21 survey dives at Rose Bay since our first survey here on 21/11/2022.
– We have recorded 76 species at this site.
– Our most commonly recorded species at this site are Gymnodoris suggens (52% of dives), Jorunna funebris (48% of dives), Phyllidia coelestis (43% dives) and Hypselodoris bullockii (33% of dives). We only recorded one of these species on this survey.
– The most prevalent species we record here are Gymnodoris suggens (2.1/dive), Hypselodoris bullockii (1.7/dive), Haloa wallisii (1.5/dive) and Hypselodoris emma (1.5/dive).
– This is the first time we have recorded Liloa brevis in the Whitsundays.- Looking back over our data, we notice that there appears to be a peak in both the abundance and prevalence of species in November/December each year and that both these decrease in April. It is far too early to say if this is a significant trend but it will give us something to watch over the next few years.
– Our last survey at this site was on 12/04/2026.

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

TOTAL SPECIES SIGHTED: 4

DIVE IMAGES GALLERY

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