Recent Dives- Port Phillip Bay, SE Australia

Hi Folks,

while on annual leave I've been enjoying some nice diving lately at my local site, Blairgowrie Marina. Despite a new dive school that has been really

punishing the site for the last 18 months+ I have been finding some interesting critters. Its the height of Summer here now and the marine life is at its

peak. Recently added the Nikon 105mm and SubSee magnifiers to my kit so I've been focusing on using those to hunt for slugs.

One of my fave local slugs is an as yet undescribed Tritonia sp. and I came across one the other day laying eggs.

Slug Spiral. by JimSwims, on Flickr

A new find for me was this Spurilla australis, a beautiful species I've been on the lookout for.

Spurilla australis. by JimSwims, on Flickr

At the moment there are good numbers of this bubble shelled slug about.

Green Oxynoe on kelp. by JimSwims, on Flickr

1st and 3rd images were taken using the 105mm with SubSee+10. 2nd with 105mm only.

Cheers,

Jim.

Jim,

Some lovely shots, wish I was down there.

Cheers,

Nigel

Thanks Nigel, are you still coming down here for your Shark/Ray search?

Here's some more images of critters other than Slugs.

A tiny juvenile Spiny Gurnard using its dazzling "eye spot" markings to confuse and distract.

Little Peacock. by JimSwims, on Flickr

A local Mantis Shrimp at the mouth of its burrow.

Mini Mantis. by JimSwims, on Flickr

A cute little Weedfish(Clinidae) that I've tentatively ID'ed as Heteroclinus heptaeolus.

Ogilby's Weedfish. by JimSwims, on Flickr

Comments and feedback welcome.

Cheers,

Jim.

Nice Macro stuff Jim, the green nudi is my fav.(like the geometics)

Hi Jim,

Unfortunately put on hold at the moment, as we are building a house that I was hoping would be finished by now, but has only just started. But I will let you know.

Cheers,

Nigel