COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS

We began with a surface swim to the northern headland of the bay before descending to explore the substrate. The thought was that we wanted to spend more time on the reef and rubble to the north west of the bay where we thought more nudibranchs might be found. After spending some time searching and not finding much we headed back to the south east and followed the reef across the bay and explored the substrate there. Again, not a lot found. It looks like it might just be a matter of continuing to search and wait until numbers improve. With stronger winds predicted in the area, there could be some wait!

Taxonomic data:
All of the four sighted species were nudibranchs, with all 4 being dorids comprising 3 x phanerobranchs (non-retractile gill), 0 x porostome (suctorial feeders  of the Phyllidiidae family), 1 x cryptobranch (retractable gill) and 0 x cladobranchs comprising 0 x aeolid, 0 x arminid and 0 x dendronotinids. No sacoglossans (sap-sucking slugs) were recorded. A total of 4 specimens (one of each species) were recorded.

Historical Data:
– We have now completed 18 survey dives at this site since our first survey here on 12/06/2018.
– We have recorded 45 species at this site.
– On this occasion we did not find any species we had not recorded in the Whitsundays Region before, but although only recording four species, three of them, Goniobranchus sinensis, Gymnodoris sp. 09, or Gymnodoris sp. 24 were new records for this site.
– The species we record most often at this site are Gymnodoris citrina (56% of dives), Elysia sp. 30 (33%), Samla bicolor (28%), and Jorunna funebris (22%). None of these species were found by us on this occasion.
– Similarly, we did not record any of the species we find to be most prevalent here on this dive (Gymnodoris citrina – 1.2/dive, Elysia sp. 30 – 1.1/dive, Samla bicolor – 0.7/dive, and Bulbaeolidia alba – 0.6/dive).
– Our last survey at this site was on 23/04/2025.

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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