Sometimes, dock fouling delivers more than just the salty promise of discovery—it delivers pure magic. November 29, 2024, was one of those days. It was the day I finally encountered the legendary Dendronotus rufus and had a whirlwind adventure of incredible finds in Cornet Bay.
9:40 AM: The Hooded Nudibranchs Greet Me The morning started with a familiar friend: Melibe leonina. Their ghostly, delicate hoods swayed hypnotically as they danced through the water. Seeing these ethereal creatures felt like a good omen—nature’s way of saying, "Something special is coming."
9:47 - 9:51 AM: Dirona Triple Threat Dirona albolineata, the White-Lined Dirona, and its golden cousin, Dirona pellucida, came out in full force. These elegant sea slugs are like marine royalty with their translucent, ribbon-like cerata catching the light. The golden Dirona was a standout—its subtle shimmer was so mesmerizing I had to stop and admire it twice.
10:02 AM: Tiny Medusa Drama In a surprising twist, the tiny, pulsating Sarsia medusas made a cameo. Their miniature fireworks display of movement added a whimsical touch to the morning.
10:05 - 10:18 AM: Hermissenda and Aeolidia Encore The ever-flashy Hermissenda crassicornis put on its electric show, while Aeolidia species dotted the scene like confetti. These tiny marvels always remind me that even the small things in nature can be extraordinary.
10:46 AM: The Wrinkled Rock Clam A quick detour into bivalve territory brought me face-to-face with Entodesma navicula, a sturdy little clam with a charm of its own.
11:01 AM: A Brush with Dendronotus venustus This wasn’t my main quarry, but finding the branched beauty of Dendronotus venustus sent a thrill through me. Its intricate cerata hinted at what was to come.
11:17 AM: Dendronotus rufus—The Holy Grail And then, there it was: the crimson prize, Dendronotus rufus. It was perched in a tricky spot, close to the waterline, as if testing my devotion. At least 12 cm long and utterly regal, it was everything I’d dreamed of and more. Photographing it was like trying to catch a celebrity in the wild—waves crashing, light shifting—but every effort was worth it. My heart raced as I captured its fiery brilliance.
11:24 - 11:49 AM: Post-Rufus Revelry Still riding the high, I encountered Onchidoris bilamellata and Coryphella verrucosa. These delicate dorids and fiery red-fingered beauties felt like encores to the main act.
12:07 PM: Wrapping Up with Aeolidia The final Aeolidia sightings brought the adventure to a close. By this point, my mind was a kaleidoscope of colors, textures, and sheer amazement.
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