DAY/DATE
Friday
21/05/2021
SITE/S
La Balsa Park
PARTICIPANTS
Terry, David
TYPE
Subtidal
MODE
Shore Entry
VESSEL
–
DIVE
1
SITE/S
La Balsa Park (Rotunda)
SPECIES #
8
DURATION
55 Min
DEPTH/RANGE
To 5.3 m
TEMP.
22 C
VIS.
1 m
SURGE
–
CURRENT
Usual tidal run
COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS
Looking at the water clarity before the dive we had some reservations about the visibility we would encounter but we already had a couple of false starts in the past week so we were keen to go nevertheless. We had a maximum of one metre viz on descent and it only deteriorated as the dive progressed – a wall of silt just kept coming and when the tidal flow eased, seemed to hang ever denser. We called the dive as we approached an hour of immersion. We assume the river mouth dredging is the cause. Silt seemed to be settling upon and smothering all the sessile life.
Our Historical data:
– 53 surveys conducted at this site since 11/05/2014.
– 161 species recorded by us at this site.
– The Unidentia complex also has a high level of sightings,
74% – but we did not sight any this time.
Guide to Symbols:
+++ New Species
+ First time sighted at this site
# Most commonly sighted at this site with %
TOTAL SPECIES SIGHTED: 8
SPECIES LIST – ALPHABETICAL
Cratena lineata -11
Cratena sp. 07 -1 +
Flabellina lotos -8
Flabellina rubrolineata -3
Goniobranchus daphne -2 #83%
Goniodoridella sp. 01 -17 #92%
Gymnodoris sp. 10 -1
Hypselodoris obscura -1 #91%
SPECIES GROUPED BY ORDER
Nudibranchia
Cratena lineata -11
Cratena sp. 07 -1
Flabellina lotos -8
Flabellina rubrolineata -3
Goniobranchus daphne -2
Goniodoridella sp. 01 -17
Gymnodoris sp. 10 -1
Hypselodoris obscura -1
Cephalaspidea
–
Sacoglossa
–
Umbraculoidea
–
Pleurobranchoidea
–
Anaspidea
–