NELSON Bay is set to get its very own Nudi Fest.
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The festival is not for nudists, but for divers to help researchers learn more about nudibranchs.
Nudibranchs and many other types of sea slug are diverse and abundant in the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park.
And, with Nelson Bay being renowned for its shore dive sites, researchers are hoping divers will want to jump in on December 13 and 14 to spot as many sea slugs as they can.
"We're holding the world's first nudibranch festival ... to celebrate the local marine life," marine scientist David Harasti said.
"The focus is nudibranchs, colourful sea slugs that divers from all over the world come to Nelson Bay to see."
Mr Harasti works for NSW Department of Primary Industries in Port Stephens. He has a new species of nudibranch named after him, the Okenia Harastii, discovered at Fly Point this year.
He is also one of the people behind the Sea Slug Census - participant divers vie for the title best nudi spotter in the 24 hours of Saturday, December 13.
Nudi Fest would also feature Australia's foremost nudibranchs expert, Dr Richard Willan, senior curator of molluscs at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, who will give public lectures on December 12 and 13.
Other Nudi Fest activities include touch tanks with nudibranchs, seahorses and other creatures from Port waters.
■ For more information email seaslugcensus@gmail.com.