Nudibranchs in South Australia
More than 1,000 species of sea slug on Australian reefs, with the temperate south holding some of the richest nudibranch sites in the world.
Nudibranchia
Nudibranchs are on almost every site in this directory, and the temperate coast from Nelson Bay to Perth is famous among macro photographers for them: Fly Point and the Pipeline at Nelson Bay have recorded more than 500 species, the Mornington Peninsula piers, the Yorke Peninsula jetties and Sydney's Harbour and Botany Bay sites are close behind. The tropical reefs add the Spanish dancer, the Chromodoris species and the ornate ceratosomas.
Field notes
How to find nudibranchs on the dive
- Depth
- 1–30 m.
- Habitat
- Everywhere there is sponge, hydroid or bryozoan growth: the Mornington and SA piers, Nelson Bay, Sydney's Bare Island and Kurnell, and every temperate reef. Southern Australia has more species than anywhere else.
- The tell
- Slow down to a metre a minute and look at the sponges, not the fish. A bright spot the size of a fingernail that has two horns (rhinophores) at the front and a gill tuft at the back is a nudibranch; many are smaller than that. Egg ribbons, which look like spiral lace, mean adults are close.
- Behaviour
- They graze a specific prey, so the same species is found on the same sponge or hydroid each time. Night dives turn up many more.
- Etiquette
- Do not move them, prod them or reposition them for a photograph; a nudibranch off its food source is lost.
- Photographing them
- Macro or super-macro, a focus light, and a slow, neutrally buoyant approach so you do not silt the subject.
Season heat map
When nudibranchs sites are in season
Share of the 50 nudibranchs sites in South Australia with a stated best season that includes each month.
Stated season: Year-round; spring brings the highest diversity in the south.
Nudibranchs sites in South Australia67 sites
Ordered by how regularly the site is dived and how well it is documented. The species is listed in each site's recorded marine life; sightings are never guaranteed.
All other sites recording nudibranchs
- MV Seawolf Wreck · Max 20 m · Adelaide Metro
- Point Turton Jetty · Max 6 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Port Hughes Jetty · Max 7 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Port Victoria Jetty · Max 8 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Second Valley · Max 9 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Star of Greece Wreck · Max 6 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- The Bluff (Rosetta Head) · Max 18 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Port Noarlunga Southern Reef · Max 8 m · Adelaide Metro
- Wool Bay Jetty · Max 5 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Aldinga Pinnacles · Max 18 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Seacliff Reef · Max 15 m · Adelaide Metro
- Tumby Bay Jetty · Max 5 m · Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
- Western River Cove · Max 18 m · Kangaroo Island
- Ardrossan Town Jetty · Max 6 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Christies Beach Ledges · Max 5 m · Adelaide Metro
- Glenelg Blocks · Max 6 m · Adelaide Metro
- Glenelg Tyre Reef · Max 18 m · Adelaide Metro
- Horseshoe Reef · Max 6 m · Adelaide Metro
- Kirton Point Jetty · Max 12 m · Eyre Peninsula
- Port Lincoln Town Jetty · Max 4 m · Eyre Peninsula
- Port Willunga Reef & Jetty Ruins · Max 6 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Rapid Head · Max 12 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Snapper Point (Aldinga Reef) · Max 7 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Wallaroo Jetty · Max 14 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Stansbury Jetty · Max 7 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Old Rapid Bay Jetty · Max 12 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Elliston Jetty · Max 6 m · Eyre Peninsula
- John Robb Wreck · Max 20 m · Adelaide Metro
- Leatherjacket Alley · Max 10 m · Adelaide Metro
- Milkies Reef · Max 17 m · Adelaide Metro
- Myponga Beach · Max 8 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Stanvac Dump · Max 15 m · Adelaide Metro
- Whyalla Old Jetty · Max 10 m · Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
- Arno Bay Jetty · Max 5 m · Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
- Cape Donington · Max 12 m · Eyre Peninsula
- Coobowie Jetty · Max 4 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Edithburgh Sponge Garden · Max 8 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Glenelg Jetty · Max 4 m · Adelaide Metro
- Gull Rock · Max 10 m · Adelaide Metro
- Hallett Cove · Max 8 m · Adelaide Metro
- Klein Point Jetty · Max 10 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Lady Bay Reef · Max 5 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Louth Bay Jetty · Max 4 m · Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
- Marino Rocks · Max 8 m · Adelaide Metro
- Marion Bay Jetty · Max 5 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Moonta Bay Jetty · Max 5 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Northern Outer Reef · Max 18 m · Adelaide Metro
- Oliver's Reef · Max 20 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Penguin Point (Marion Bay) · Max 6 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Port Neill Jetty · Max 5 m · Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
- Port Rickaby Jetty · Max 5 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Port Vincent Jetty · Max 5 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Seaford Reef · Max 18 m · Adelaide Metro
- Snapper Point (KI) · Max 40 m · Kangaroo Island
- Stickney Island · Max 12 m · Eyre Peninsula
- Streaky Bay Jetty · Max 5 m · Eyre Peninsula
- Venus Bay Jetty · Max 5 m · Eyre Peninsula
- Wedge Island – West Bay · Max 25 m · Yorke Peninsula
Frequently asked questions
How do I find nudibranchs on a dive?
Everywhere there is sponge, hydroid or bryozoan growth: the Mornington and SA piers, Nelson Bay, Sydney's Bare Island and Kurnell, and every temperate reef. Southern Australia has more species than anywhere else. Slow down to a metre a minute and look at the sponges, not the fish. A bright spot the size of a fingernail that has two horns (rhinophores) at the front and a gill tuft at the back is a nudibranch; many are smaller than that. Egg ribbons, which look like spiral lace, mean adults are close.
Where is the best place to see nudibranchs in Australia?
Fly Point and the Pipeline (Nelson Bay); Blairgowrie; Edithburgh; Bare Island; Kurnell; Tinderbox; every pier.
When is the best time to see nudibranchs?
Year-round; spring brings the highest diversity in the south.
How should I approach nudibranchs?
Slow down. A five-metre patch of sponge-covered wall at Fly Point can hold ten species.