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Dive Reports

08-05-2021 Coles Hole

DAY/DATE

Saturday

08/05/2021

SITE/S

Coles Hole

 

PARTICIPANTS

Terry, David

 

TYPE

Subtidal

 

MODE

Boat Dives

 

VESSEL

Rebel II

 

DIVE

1

2

SITE/S

Coles Hole

Coles Hole

SPECIES #

15

6

DURATION

63 Min

66 Min

DEPTH/RANGE

16-20 m

16-20 m

TEMP.

23 C

23 C

VIS.

5 m

5 m

SURGE

Heavy

Heavy

CURRENT

Nil

Nil

COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS

We had been putting this latest excursion off due to either strong winds or heavy swell. While the swell was probably a bit bigger than we would have liked we could wait no more and took Rebel II out of the Mooloolah River to the Gneerings. On the trip out we could see a foamy line marking the extent of the layer of dirty fresh on top. (This actually continued and pushed out past us during our surface interval. We  could easily discern its quick progress.) Anchoring was “spot on” with the pick dropping into the channel right at the entrance to the cave. The surge made photography difficult and we probably missed some slugs because of it as well. Finds of note include Verconia laboutei & Tenellia (Phestilla) sp. 40. The site is thickly carpeted with many varieties of hard corals requiring investigation between the colonies to find sea slugs. Of the total species count of 18, 16 are dorids 11 of which belong to the Chromodorididae family.

Our Historical Data:
– 26 logged survey-dives conducted at this site from 04/01/2012
– Last surveyed on 13/11/2018
– 128 species recorded by us at this site.
– Thuridilla cf. splendens, although not sighted this trip, also has a high level of sightings at this site, at 83%

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

TOTAL SPECIES SIGHTED: 18

 

SPECIES LIST – ALPHABETICAL

Cadlinella ornatissima 1/-
Chromodoris elisabethina 9/9 #88%
Chromodoris kuiteri -/3
Chromodoris lochi 1/-
Chromodoris magnifica 2/- +
Doriprismatica atromarginata 2/- #75%
Goniobranchus geometricus 1/-
Hexabranchus sanguineus 1/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni 1/-
Hypselodoris obscura 1/-
Hypselodoris zephyra 1/-
Phyllidia elegans 1/-
Phyllidia varicosa 2/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 6/7 #83%
Phyllidiopsis cardinalis 1/-
Tenellia sibogae 1/- +
Tenellia (Phestilla) sp.40 -/2 +
Verconia laboutei -/1 +

SPECIES GROUPED BY ORDER

Nudibranchia
Cadlinella ornatissima 1/-
Chromodoris elisabethina 9/9 
Chromodoris kuiteri -/3
Chromodoris lochi 1/-
Chromodoris magnifica 2/- 
Doriprismatica atromarginata 2/- 
Goniobranchus geometricus 1/-
Hexabranchus sanguineus 1/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni 1/-
Hypselodoris obscura 1/-
Hypselodoris zephyra 1/-
Phyllidia elegans 1/-
Phyllidia varicosa 2/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 6/7 
Phyllidiopsis cardinalis 1/-
Tenellia sibogae 1/- 
Tenellia (Phestilla) sp.40 -/2 
Verconia laboutei -/1 

Cephalaspidea

Sacoglossa

Umbraculoidea

Pleurobranchoidea

Anaspidea

DIVE IMAGES GALLERY

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