Nudi-Heaven 26 September, Bob's Rock & K41

Today was definitely a day for Nudi-fanciers. Armed with our team of visiting Swiss Nudi-spotters, Gabriel and Helena, as well as the ever-vigilant, Wayne, Bob's Rock was rich pickings today. Helena found this one (and there were a number out today (see below for K41)

Chromodoris kuniei

Chromodoris magnifica? Just a tiny one spotted again by the Swiss team.

And I found this tiny little guy. He was less than 1cm long and the exposure (as well as the focus) was a real problem. But I am putting him here for proof.

Hypselodoris maculosa ? also see here:

http://www.nudipixel.net/photo/00000818/

And Helena found this tiny spec sitting pretty on a little rock. Still, he was about 1cm long and difficult to manage with my limited skills. As with the Nudi above, I have never seen this one before.

Hypselodoris whitei ?

And this guy was relatively common in patches today.

Thuridilla lineolata

But it wasn't just about the Nudi's today. At K41 Wayne found an uncharacteristically obvious Ragged Scorpion Fish.

Then we had a recapitulation of the theme from Bob's Rock, someone apparently answering my prayers for Nudi's that we at least 5cm long. Thanks someone.

And this one definitely goes in the "variation on a theme" category. There is no way to determine what this one is without referring to the books. Later...

Phyllidiopsis krempfi ?

And, finally, for the day, this little magnifica was very well behaved for my last shot.

19 September - K41

It was a characteristically beautiful dive at K41 today. The first dive was to the east and the second to the west. Even though I missed the black and green nudibranch on the first dive, I got 2 very interesting ones on the second. Before the first dive, one of the team spotted a sea snake on the rocky K41 beach. It was a beautiful banded sea snake and I have no excuse for not photographing it other than I was so excited that I forgot! 


The dive itself was relatively uneventful from a “critter” perspective but there were multitudes of fish – everything from rabbitfish to sweetlips to fusiliers. There was a cast of thousands. I normally don’t photograph sea cucumbers (Trepang) but couldn’t resist upon seeing “him” eating.

And then, later, I saw this (not a nudi but, according to Wayne, a juvenile form of the trepan).

The break between dives was marked by a series of giant leaps from a large bill-fish (Marlin?) a couple of hundred metres from shore. And then some whales further out, made an appearance. The dive itself produced squid and, most impressively, a Great Barracuda. This big fish is a loner and is often spotter west of K41. This time, however, he was stationary near a small coral outcrop with his mouth wide open, bearing his teeth. But he wasn’t anticipating lunch, he was visiting the fish dentist, who were busily working away way on him. Its days like this when you wish for a video camera. On the turn around, however, there were a couple of Nudis worth noting. The first was found by Wayne.

Flabellina bilas?

And the second, by me, a few metres away…although I have to admit that I could only see some small amount of colour and hoped that the camera got the focus (this nudi was about 2cm long). The result was not too bad. It is probably of the flabellina genus (Flabellina Rubrolineata?) and resembles one I photographed a few weeks ago. But this is a better shot. (But I still need to get glasses.)

And finally, on the wall at K41, was this magnificent worm, like a sunburst.

12 September 2010

Well, last week's dive was a bit of a dud from the photography perspective (strong currents at both Maubara and Dili Rock East (both west of Dili) meant that more time was spent 'holding on' rather than taking photos. Being 'photographically challenged' means that I need either slow moving critters or slow moving water in order to have a chance at a good shot. So there is no chance of seeing the white-tip Reef Shark or the (Hawke's Bill?) Turtle here. There were challenges today too at "Dirt Track" and K41. On the way east, we saw a whale (probably a Humpback) every close to the shore as well as a turtle on the surface at Lone Tree. Not a bad start to the day - we hadn't even made it into the water! But there were interesting nudies here and there. The star of the day, however, was a variation on the "warty ones". Everywhere seemed to contain these.

A "warty one" (Phyllidiopsis shireenae)? But this is black and white. Exposure was difficult because of all the white but this is the best I could do.

But is it the same as this one seen at K41. Note the black Rhinophores.

Is it the same or different. Perhaps just some regional variation. These look very similar to the common Nudibranchs below.

These seem very similar to the common Nudibranchs below (which were notably absent today) and I wonder if there has just been a colour change for the day. I'm sure that some of you branchsters out there will know.

We didn't see many of these today (which is unusual) Phyllidia elegans?

K41 has amazing critters on the wall and I cannot stop shooting this one with the crazy patterns on the case of the tentacles (I'm sure there is a technical name but it eludes me right now).

Also see the last shot for the day. "Sammy" discovered this immature (Ragged) Scorpion Fish at K41 going west, in the rocks at about 8/9m.

Essentially impossible to see but the obvious things are the eye (top right) and the poisonous spur (centre). Ouch! Even this small (about 15cm) this guy is really dangerous. Much bigger Ragged Scorpion Fish (up to 60cm) are in abundance at Pertamina Wharf right in Dili.