liquidg Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 (edited) Our wonderful waters not far from Brisbane in Southeast Queensland has put on a good show as per usual for us on aandtsocietycollecting trips for our reef aquariums. We have had some great free dives, wonderful low tide walks and breath taking scuba trips for photo opportunities. Quite often some of us do not catch any thing intensionaly,some times we are just happy to be amongst so much life and literally swim with what many have to pay hundreds of dollars for at the local aquarium shop. Its only 12 years left now till the aandtsociety will has its 100th anniversary for indulging in these field trips. It’s a shame so many hobbyists don’t get the opportunity to be a part of the marine environment the way we do to get a serious understanding of how the ocean functions to apply things learnt from close up observations and apply them to our reef tanks This is where we keep the pics of common SEQ reef life that we regularly see. http://southeastqueenslandm.aforumfree.com/f20-fish-invertebrates-found-near-brisbane-in-seq At times we see some impressive cloud formations on the way out to reefs. On one of our low tide collecting walks, this was the welcoming committee or maybe it was just a cuddle wanted. A not so happy cuttlefish, he didn’t want any company other then the wife. She was just behind him. A couple of us on one of our favourite reefs getting readyto get in after being dropped off while the others went fishing. Edited January 20, 2013 by liquidg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidg Posted January 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 (edited) My self-enjoying the conditions on an open water trip. Some estuarine thistle coral in abundance so far this year. Always a pineapple fish to see at most sites we collect at. A cute little trumpet from raised coralline. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- A new season carpet anemone of thousands we see. A nice cluster of a type of colony anemone, some were collected, sadly the peppermint shrimp killed them all. A lysmata young couple have set up house. A locally well-known leopard shark we see regularly at this site, after a short pat and a hand fed crab, that was enough and off it went. Edited January 20, 2013 by liquidg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidg Posted January 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 (edited) A dinner sized flat head An oyster species we see regularly. A type of tubeworm endemic to the mid auz east coast,only! When your aquarium waters hit 25c,these endemics begin a slow death. Always thousands of clams out off Brisbane, we see four different species out here all up and there is one giant clam at another site. Edited January 20, 2013 by liquidg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidg Posted January 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 (edited) This male dragonet having an argument showing off his colours to deter the younger new comer. This we see from time to time, two tone acans! One of many common nudibranches, this one is endemic to the sunshine coast. There have been many lemon peel angels this season. Edited January 20, 2013 by liquidg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidg Posted January 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 (edited) Our local variety of chromis in massive amounts this year. One of the many crays we see. A few of what has been collected these last two months. Edited January 20, 2013 by liquidg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidg Posted January 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 (edited) A rare pic of a juvenile conger eel. I have this one to observe it as the changes to adult occur and will look nothing like this stage. There have been a lot of coral beauties to see. Always a multitude of anthias around. So far this year we have found two hybrids, this one isn’t one of the hybrids! A lot of new season latezonatus for us to see orcollect. Edited January 20, 2013 by liquidg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidg Posted January 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 This clown wasn’t wanted. This latezonatus was wanted. That’s it for this time; hope you enjoyed thisminuscule amount of our plentiful trip pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadFishFloating Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 This male dragonet having an argument showing off hiscolours to deter the younger new comer. Looks like an Enneapterygius atrogulare The black cheek threefin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidg Posted January 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 Yep,in the pastthe commercial guys called it a dragon net as well several other fish species. Thesemicirculatus is another good one of many nick names,koran,semi,blueangel,etc. Its in here justafter the triggers. http://southeastqueenslandm.aforumfree.com/t1066-other-marine-aquarium-fish-species-found-near-brisbane-in-seq#3607 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryanm62 Posted January 19, 2013 Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 Thanks for posting the pics mate, very nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leah Posted January 19, 2013 Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 Excellent pics. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidg Posted January 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 Looks like an Enneapterygius atrogulareThe black cheek threefin The fish in question, that being the Enneapterygius atrogulare, I have had a male in mybottom tank since I set it up and it has only grown a couple of mil in length andrarely shows its colours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadFishFloating Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 You got many girls for him? I used to scuba in rock pools and watch them trying to impress girls. They can go from drab to beautiful in a very short time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
african-cichlids Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 That's looks like an awesome day out mate. How the hell do you go with sharks haha you've definatly got more balls than me otherwise I'd love to go diving around reefs to experience it first hand. Only if those bloody sharks weren't in the back of my mind lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadFishFloating Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 Sharks are not so much a threat to divers, just as crocs are not so much a threat to divers. its more risky to be on the surface...... siloetted and splashing around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
african-cichlids Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 Stuff that either way lol! There's been a few divers taken off straddy in last couple of years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
african-cichlids Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 It's prob something I shouldn't say to a guy that dives himself lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidg Posted January 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 (edited) That's looks like an awesome day out mate. How the hell do you go with sharks haha you've definatly got more balls than me otherwise I'd love to go diving around reefs to experience it first hand. Only if those bloody sharks weren't in the back of my mind lol Sharks are cowards on average. They can sense-feel your heartbeat, that’s how they hunt marine life at night so if you remember that they will run from you if your can control your heart beat and at the first instance,(show aggression) then they are gone. Hammer head sharks are the exception, they sense where the wrasse or others are hiding in the substrate and use that head to dig then out and chomp! The shark is an apex predator; they don’t expect you to go on the offensive. They go for the tail usually, which is your dive fines, so if you run they get inspired instinctively to hunt you down. There are many ways to avoid sharks, never get in the water under an hour after day break, the same with sun down meaning to get out with at least an hour before sun set, never go into low temperature dirty salt waters, never wear dark one to two coloured wet suits or you will look like a seal, their dinner! When you get to the boat get out, don’t hover at the surface near a large object in the water. Don’t hang around with dolphins or turtles, tiger sharks eat them especially, don’t be around whales unless with very clear waters, tigers and whites eat their young and follow them. Blood is only an attractant at close rang unless the current is taking a constant flow of blood and they follow the scent, also splashing will make them attack you and the proteins in the blood will cause them to loose mental control, unless you taste horrible. Sharks are always near by, (all but wobbies) sense your electrical impulses as in muscle movements and your heart is a muscle, then they make a decision as to look or keep going, you will not see them at this stage. They usually circle out of visual range getting closer and if you show aggression at the first sight, you win normally! If you are concerned about sharks, on scuba or freed diving take a length of metal or something that wont float with you that cannot be classed as a spear and they will be afraid of you. I carry a large knife on my leg in a wet suit scabbard built into my wet suit and one in my wet suit sleeve so I have a defence no matter what end I need to take a knife from for defence. Bull sharks and wobbegongs are the worst of all; one out often wobbies is a nut case and will not give up unless you show that you are stronger. Bull sharks are pig headed and don’t like to give in, if you have no defensive weapons for them, get out strait away, if you do have a weapon, use it straight away! The longer you do not go on the defensive, the more ground you have given up. A couple of the guys have shark shelds; they do not work with wobbies. The past wobbegong attacks is why in the 60s and 70s the grey nurse was hunted, they have similar bite makes and they got the blame until one attack on the NSW central coast closed off all doubts on who was really harming the swimmers. Never fear a shark, respect them and your heat rate will remain relatively normal and understand the conditions of the ocean that you are in at any given time and its all good. In just over 40 years of every thing oceanic, I have only had 4 attacks and each time I won, so there is not that many idiot sharks to content with really. Edited January 24, 2013 by liquidg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidg Posted January 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 (edited) fam thing doubled up Edited January 24, 2013 by liquidg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidg Posted January 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 (edited) Stuff that either way lol! There's been a few divers taken off straddy in last couple of years. A diver that is attacked is a diver that made a mistake or was not ready or informed as to the shark’s ways of doing things to keep him or her safe. The current and long spine sea urchins are a far greater risk out here then sharks. Our ocean off Bris is getting warmer and will discourage whites more and more,but the green zones are going to bring in far more bull sharks and thats already happening. Each time we go to a certain spot i have to get rough with a smart alleck bull shark or get out,so far it moves away from me,so far,lol. Edited January 24, 2013 by liquidg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
african-cichlids Posted January 24, 2013 Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 Well like I said your braver than me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadFishFloating Posted January 24, 2013 Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 The scariest thing in the sea is actually a bit more discreet. http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/holidaymaker-paralysed-after-stepping-on-sea-urchin/story-e6frfq80-1226560654600 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
african-cichlids Posted January 24, 2013 Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 **** how unlucky is that tho! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidg Posted January 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 (edited) This is our clubs section on most marine life found on our diving and collecting trips, pay close attention to the last urchin in that thread, it has a fatale sting. http://southeastqueenslandm.aforumfree.com/t1306-sea-stars-and-urchins-found-near-brisbane-in-seq I found that this one has ill affects. Upon seeing an unusual looking what I assumed was an urchin that I had not seen before, I wanted to take a pic for the clubs reference section. It fell off the glove as I readied it for a pic and brushed slightly on my other hand that is always unprotected with no glove. Two sharp sensations that were also similar to a burn feeling by stingers not spines and I was feeling strange instantly in over a hundred feet of water. A sick and hot feeling came first, followed by dizziness,followed by shaking all in a matter of 15 seconds or so. Needless to say I reached shallower waters real fast thinking I was going to pass out and held onto my weight belt ready just in case. It all went away as I lay in 30 or so feet of water and after 5 mins or so it was all gone. I called Jeff at the museum on the next Monday and he Identified it as a potentially fatale urchin. That was close, if the unprotected had grabbed it there would have been plenty of toxins go in, (which I would not do as I did not know exactly what this was), then it would have been all over in seconds. I absolutely hate sea urchins, even before this, once you have a long spine go in one side of your upper leg and out the other side just missing the bone and you loose the use of that leg for hours, that with a multitude of injuries from them, you enjoy hating them! It’s a world of complete and utter kill or be killed out there, if you are silly it will kill you or at best harm you and its nearly gotten me two times now with only a second or two left, not with sharks, yet I love the ocean and think it is far more beautiful and real then where we live. Edited April 12, 2013 by liquidg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
african-cichlids Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 Really good information your putting up mate some urchins I never even thought were actually urchins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
