Jan 18, 2024
High tide 1:30pm
Sunny /cloudy
10 knots a bit choppy
60min
9-13 m
Transect West looking for Caulerpa
Vis 7 m
Launched kayak from Jones Bay carpark. Quick paddle across the bay to the dive site. I wanted to check this area for exotic Caulerpa and also wanted to know if there were rhodolith on this side of the bay (I found neither). I anchored about 50 meters off shore just after high tide. I was very pleased with the visibility and after checking out the area under the kayak where there was a little bit of Ecklonia, I swam West for 100-200m into the current then turned as it began to pick up. Returning (bang on) to my anchor I did a little investigation before surfacing.
I really enjoyed documenting the different sponge species but was most excited by the tubeworm matts which were thick and dominated the benthos. There were spotty and common triplefin closer to the Ecklonia where I also saw one adult tāmure /snapper and one leatherjacket. A juvenile trevally also swan with me for a bit. I didn't see any fish further out into the bay.
Two different plants in photos a few meters apart. Several seen on the tubeworm fields.
A few seen, not sure why the small one has stuff attached.
Many but usually buried, this one was on the move
A few seen, usually with hermit crabs
Several of these, keen to know how big the mounds get for this species
Growing on several old dead Atrina
Quite a few shells seen but this was the only live one
Several, more common closer to shore
I think? First time I have seen the body of the animal.
Different sponges. Many seen, more common closer to shore
This was the only live one seen
What are these flowers in the tubeworm matts?
Comments
Add a Comment