Page 1 of 1
Gazillions of Opalescents
Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 7:07 am
by dphershman
I'll add these pictures to the earlier ones of the crazy explosion of Opalescent Nudibranchs (
Hermissenda crassicornis ) going on in Puget Sound right now. Here's some photos that I took at Les Davis yesterday (monday)
There were so many that in places there were over a dozen per square foot. Most amazingly they were found at all depths, from the edge of the water all the way down to 55 feet.
a rather nicely colored one
chomping on the hydroids
a large group of a dozen or more feeding on a jelly that had somehow been ensnared
color variations occur because of variations in their diet.
Dan
Re: Gazillions of Opalescents
Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 10:20 am
by Echo
Nudi season is the best!!!
Re: Gazillions of Opalescents
Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 10:59 am
by YellowEye
So cool! There were tons of them out at Edmonds too. They were mostly pretty small and drab though.
Re: Gazillions of Opalescents
Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 12:32 pm
by ScubaJess
Fantastic pics! I'm so glad nudi season is upon us!
![:) :)](./images/smilies/smile.gif)
Re: Gazillions of Opalescents
Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 5:16 pm
by dphershman
thanks for the comments everyone
The viz may be lousy but the nudis make up for it.
Dan
Re: Gazillions of Opalescents
Posted: Wed May 25, 2016 9:00 am
by Tom Nic
Love it!
Re: Gazillions of Opalescents
Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 8:44 am
by dphershman
We went to Fox Island West Wall on monday. Poor viz and some stiff currents, at least by FIWW standards. On this dive we found only one Opalescent, but it was a beaut!
![Image](https://photos.smugmug.com/Underwater-Photography/Marine-Life-of-the-Pacific/Nudibranchs/Opalescent-Nudibranch/i-FgTHMT6/0/L/_DSC2658-L.jpg)
Re: Gazillions of Opalescents
Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 9:05 am
by YellowEye
Nice one!
Re: Gazillions of Opalescents
Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 9:28 am
by ScubaJess
Super Nice!
Re: Gazillions of Opalescents
Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 10:13 am
by Scubie Doo
Beautiful Dan! Did you see any giant nudibranch eating the tube-dwelling anemones? They used to be everywhere, now I never see them :(
Re: Gazillions of Opalescents
Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 5:19 pm
by dphershman
Scubie Doo wrote:
Beautiful Dan! Did you see any giant nudibranch eating the tube-dwelling anemones? They used to be everywhere, now I never see them :(
No, I haven't seen any there in awhile. Only one tritonia as well.
Dan
Re: Gazillions of Opalescents
Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 5:24 pm
by YellowEye
Jesse -- I saw giant nudis at Shangri La a couple weeks ago
Re: Gazillions of Opalescents
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 10:11 pm
by dphershman
Mark and I went to Saltwater State Park this morning and found more Opalescents.
One of the things I've learned is to look for tiny egg whorls, they're commonly associated with nudibranchs that are nearly impossible to see otherwise.
That's where I found this Eubranchus. Not sure of what type it is, perhaps someone knows? There are actually two individuals in this photo
Dan
Re: Gazillions of Opalescents
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 12:47 am
by Scubak
I'd love to hook up with you for a dive...
I need to pic your brain for photos...
Kirsten
Re: Gazillions of Opalescents
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 9:17 am
by Scubie Doo
Scubak wrote:I'd love to hook up with you for a dive...
I need to pic your brain for photos...
Kirsten
That's a good brain to pick
Dan, I have a tiny nudibranch I need ID help with. It's in the Blakely Rock dive recap. Let me know your thoughts on it.