COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS

Following the farce of our last attempt at diving Canyons we went back and located some more-promising terrain by sounder. Although a more rewarding experience than last time the dive, at the time, seemed underwhelming so we motored over to the Trench for our second dive. We dropped the pick a little further East than usual. Great terrain to dive on here, with a nice ledge and split boulders but surprisingly our numbers were similar at both sites. Upon reflection we will probably survey Canyons again. Two finds at the Trench are worth comment: Thorunna sp. 04 and Hypselodoris melanesica – are not commonly recorded. The sea butterfly – Diacavolinia longirostris was sighted just below the surface as we ended the second dive. As usual, they were extremely quick at avoiding capture.

Taxonomic Diversity
Combining the two sites:
16 out of the 25 species sighted (almost 2/3 of total) were dorids comprising 3 x phanerobranchs, 4 x porostomes (all belonging to Phyllidiidae) and 9 x cryptobranchs (all belonging to the Chromodorididae Family). The other 9 species comprised: 1 x aeolid, 2 x arminids,1 x dendronotid 1 x sacoglossan, 1 x umbrella shell  2 x side-gilled pleurobranchs, 1 x pelagic pteropodid completing the count. A great cross section of the sea slug groups. If diet is considered 16 of the 25 are spongivores.

Our Historical Data:
Canyons:
– This survey is only the second at this site.
– 22 species have been recorded here

Trench:
– This survey is number 19 at this site since we first recorded information from here on 27/06/2011
– Last surveyed on 20/07/2021
– 105 species have been recorded here
– It is worth noting that all of our dives at this site have been in the months of June to October inclusive – a function of the winds and swell or just happenstance?

Key to symbols
+++ New Species
+ First time sighted at this site
# Most commonly sighted at this site with %

Total Species Sighted: 25

DIVE IMAGES GALLERY

PUT CURSOR ON IMAGE FOR SPECIES NAME
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE & SCROLL