COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS

The weather was amazing which meant the boat ramp would be crazy being a Sunday so we opted for a shore dive at Rose Bay instead of taking the boat out. The tide was already on the way out so the dive was fairly shallow but with the amazing visibility it meant we could explore a little more. The corals are amazing on this reef, given that it fringes the shore here as well. Interestingly the rock that contained lots of algae and Elysia spp. on our dive here in December was pretty much devoid of algae and no critters were to be found, showing just how dynamic these shallow in-shore areas are. Although the slug species count was low it was still lovely to be able to see all of the other marine life that inhabits this area.

Taxonomic Diversity:
Three of the four sighted species were nudibranchs, with all 3 being dorids comprising 2 x phanerobranchs (non-retractile gill), 1 x porostome (suctorial feeders  of the Phyllidiidae family), 0 x cryptobranchs (retractable gill) and 0 x cladobranch comprising 0 x aeolids, 0 x arminid and 0 x dendronotinids. A single sacoglossan completed the species count. If diet is considered then only 1 of the 4 species sighted was a spongivore. It is possible that the gymnodorids are feeding on the Elysia.

Our Historical data:
– We have now undertaken 5 survey dives at this site since our first survey here on 21/11/2022.
– We have recorded 23 species at this site.
– Our most commonly recorded species here are Elysia sp. 31 (100%), Gymnodoris sp. 26 (100%), Facelina bourailli (60%, and Haloa sp. 2 (40%).
– This is the first occasion on which we have recorded Gymnodoris citrina or Phyllidiella ??? at this site.
– Our last survey here was on 4/01/2024.

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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