COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS

Sunday was originally chosen for our next trip out to the offshore reefs however a change to the predicted weather saw Saturday improve and the wind strength increase for Sunday so we advanced our trip to Saturday. Our trip over the bar was uneventful with the crossing still situated to the northern side. The first dive on Dropoff saw us scratching around for species on one side of the anchor but the finds soon ramped up when we shifted the search to the other side. One small gutter had 4 Goniobranchus splendidus on one wall and 3 Chromodoris kuiteri on the other. Where it intersected with another small gutter, up to 7 Doriprismatica atromarginata were feeding and all were in similar orientation. Large numbers of Chromodoris elisabethina and Hypselodoris jacksoni were recorded here. Nudi 2 had more species and high numbers of Doriprismatica atromarginata. It is the season for Caulerpa racemosa to return and several large patches were evident at Nudi 2, and a search through it revealing two small specimens of Oxynoe jacksoni. Hopefully next trip will present us with larger specimens.

Taxonomic Diversity
Combining the two sites:
23 out of the 28 species sighted (over 80% of total) were dorids comprising 4 x phanerobranchs (unable to retract gill), 5 x porostomes (radulaless suctorial feeders, all belonging to Phyllidiidae) and 14 x cryptobranchs (able to retract gill, all but one belonging to the Chromodorididae Family). The other 5 species comprised: 2 x aeolid, 2 x dendronotids & 1 x sacoglossan. If diet is considered 21 of the 28 are spongivores.

Our Historical Data:
Dropoff:
– This is the 21st survey undertaken at this site since 05/10/2014.
– Last surveyed on 15/11/2020
– 98 species have been recorded here.

Nudi 2:
– This survey is number 22 at this site since we first recorded information from here on 09/12/2012.
– Last surveyed on 22/08/2021.
– 107 species have been recorded here.
– Goniobranchus fidelis is a new species to our Sunshine Coast list.
– Sagaminopteron ornatum is commonly sighted here at 77% but was not found on this survey.

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

Total Species Sighted: 28

DIVE IMAGES GALLERY

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