Mushroom-like creature in shallow water?

[CuzzA]

Sea Pansy?

 

[agilis]

Nothing even close to your suggestions, folks.

Let me try again. The main body of the creature is grey and kinda rigid with the top a bit textured, like the sand dollar's. The stem is smooth, long and flexible, greyish-purple, with a purple droplet shaped bulge at the end. It is likely that the stem was borrowed in the sand, but I am not sure. The waters at Jekyll are no more transparent than Latte.

Except for color this sounds like Stichodactyla helianthus. And idea of size would be helpful.

 

[tarponchik]

Like this, below (in shape, not in color)?

View attachment 378551

Somehow I can't enlarge your photo, Dan. So I can't tell.

 

[tarponchik]

Sea Pansy?
View attachment 378552

Yes, very much like this!

 

[CuzzA]

Sounds like that's what they were. Many corals and gorgonians can look completely different when closed. Especially soft corals and large polyp stonies.

 

[tarponchik]

Sounds like that's what they were. Many corals and gorgonians can look completely different when closed. Especially soft corals and large polyp stonies.

Yes, thank you! I wonder why I've never seen them in Florida where they supposedly are found.

 

[DocVikingo]

Yes, thank you! I wonder why I've never seen them in Florida where they supposedly are found.

No sure where in FL you are located, but they are primarily found along the east coast of FL, not the west. Also, they often bury themselves in sand and therefore are more likely to be seen when wave action uncovers them.

Cheers,

DocVikingo

 

[tarponchik]

I do not live in FL but dive there every year, mostly in the area from Riviera Beach to Dania Beach. Did couple of dives on the Gulf side also. Also did my share of fooling on shallow sandy beaches like in Bahia Honda Park, and never saw them. Also, they are not mentioned in the book on the subject that I have, Numann, DeDoach and Wilk's "Reef Creature Identification: Florida Caribbean Bahamas", 3d ed.