Dive report: Rhodolith Bed SW Pakatoa Island
The Sea Change Seasketch maps have a huge rhodolith bed south west of Pakatoa Island. I dropped down in the middle of it hoping to see a bright pink seafloor with incredible structure and diversity (see this journal post). I was very disappointed to find thick mud with Mediterranean fanworm the dominant epifauna.
I dug three holes 8-10cm deep and found lots of large shells mostly green-lipped mussels. There were no signs of shell hash or rhodoliths. If there was a rhodolith bed at this location it hasn't been here for decades. I also found many Southern Sand Star whose outlines were clearly visible (where they had disturbed the algae when digging into the mud to hide). I wonder what visual predator they are hiding from during the day. I can't imagine a Charonia lampas being able to navigate the soft mud.
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