Georgia Poyner is an avid diver and budding marine biologist who knows the name of most fauna she spots underwater. But a pink jellyfish drifting along the Narooma Boardwalk, on the south coast of New South Wales, had her stumped.

She collected the jelly and asked Michael McMaster, the curator of the Merimbula Aquarium, to help identify the species.  He sent a photo to the Australian Museum in Sydney who identified it as Cephea cephea. The museum then promptly asked for the specimen as it’s such a rare find! 

“This is the second time ever this species has been found in Australia!” Georgia told Redmap. “The last was in 1924 and in Queensland."

Cephea cephea is more common in tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Her rare find made the news (see here) and is now on display at the Australian Museum.

"I was pretty stoked with that find!" Georgia said after logging her sighting on Redmap.

Georgia is already a talented diver (and free diver) and underwater photographer. She loves anything to do with the marine environment and has uploaded more than 30 sightings on Redmap including anglerfish, lionfish and butterflyfish.

She also volunteers for other citizen science projects like the Nature Coast Marine Group which organises various marine surveys.  Why does Georgia love contributing to citizen science?

"It makes me really happy to know that the things I see can be of benefit to marine science, which is why I keep coming back for more," she said.

Check out Georgia's sightings on Redmap at http://www.redmap.org.au/my-redmap/view/GP/