COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS

Another no wind day so off to Rose Bay. Surface conditions were lovely but visibility was still down around 5m, which is possibly because of all the Trichodesmium in the water. We headed straight out over the reef and pickings were slow. Finally we started to find some critters and we ended up in our favourite area on the eastern side of the reef where the topography becomes more interesting. Typically just as we get here and start finding stuff it is time to turn around and head back.

The water temp is rather chilly at 21 C, which is when we would be in drysuits on the Sunshine Coast. Alas those suits are no longer dry, so wetsuits it is. We were very happy with the diversity on today’s dive with a new one for us topping off the list.

Taxonomic Diversity:
Twelve of the fourteen species sighted were nudibranchs, Seven being dorids comprising 4 x porostomes (suctorial feeders), 2 x phanerobranchs (non-retractile gill), 1 x cryptobranch (retractable gill); and five cladobranchs comprising 4 x aeolids, 0 x arminids and 1 x dendronotinid. Two sacoglossans complete the sightings. A total of 24 specimens were sighted. If diet is considered, five of the fourteen were spongivores.

Our Historical data:
– We have now completed 27 survey dives at Rose Bay since our first survey here on 21/11/2022.
– We have recorded 86 species at this site.
– Our most commonly recorded species at this site are Gymnodoris suggens (50% of dives), Jorunna funebris (46% of dives) Hypselodoris tryoni (38% of dives), and Phyllidia coelestis (38% dives).
– The most prevalent species we record here are Gymnodoris suggens (19/dive), Hypselodoris bullockii (1.4/dive), Hypselodoris emma (1.4/dive) and, Haloa wallisii (1.2/dive).
– This is our first recording of Eubranchus sp. 29, the first time we have recorded Tenellia sp. 84 on the Whitsundays, and the first time we have recorded Noumeaella rehderi at this site.
– Our last survey at this site was on 21/07/2026.
(Historical data courtesy of Terry Farr, who extracts it from his comprehensive database.)

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

TOTAL SPECIES SIGHTED: 14

DIVE IMAGES GALLERY

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