COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS

Despite the recent rains the visibility did not look too bad at Grays Bay. SE winds were creating lumpy conditions at Horseshoe Bay and Rose Bay (again), so we decided to jump in at Grays Bay and see what if anything we could find. Visibility was very ordinary at about 1m for most of the dive but it was enough to see the substrate. After 70mins of hunting we finally found our first sea slug, a Phyllidia ocellata, which we have not recorded here before. As the visibility did not worsen as it usually does we continued to head further out and were rewarded with a Doriprismatica atromarginata and a brief period of clearer water and sunshine. On our return we encountered further individuals all in one small area. Of interesting note on this dive we observed some hydroids, halimeda and more sponges (food sources for different species) than we normally see so let’ s hope this is a sign of future discoveries.

  We also observed some COTSS (Critters Other Than Sea Slugs) that we have not seen here before including Diadema urchin, tasselled wobbegong, red emperor and an ocellated coralfish. We exited in a rain shower happy with the limited finds, because blowing bubbles is better than working.

Taxonomic Diversity:
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Our Historical data:
– We have now completed 7 survey dives at Grays Bay since our first on 26/04/2023.
– We have recorded 14 species at this site.
– This is the first time we have recorded Phyllidia ocellata.
– This site last surveyed on 27/11/2023.

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

TOTAL SPECIES SIGHTED: 2

DIVE IMAGES GALLERY

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