Possible southern reef closure

[likestodive001]

I've been diving in Cozumel since 1987 and have over a thousand dives there since. There is absolutely no question that divers are hard on the reef - especially in the last 10 years or so. The number of divers on the reef on any given day is staggering. However, limiting divers in one area will only increase the numbers in others and totally ignores the largest cause - pollution and nutrients from Cozumel and other locations. The cruise piers, cruise boats, golf course, runoff, etc have been a disaster. Closing the reefs may help a small amount in some areas but will damage others and do nothing for the major cause. Sadly, the reefs are probably doomed over time. It would be very painful to Cozumel to fix this (severely limit cruise boats, huge fine ($250M - something unthinkable) for discharging waste into the sea by cruise boats in any location, close the golf course or not allow fertilizer there or anywhere else on the island, etc), capturing and cleaning as much runoff from town as possible, etc. I don't see that happening. Sad.

 

[Lewis88]

More old people who deny climate change being real, despite evidence presented directly to them. They put their heads in the proverbial sand, and claim fake news or faked results.

The reefs are doomed.

 

[DandyDon]

being a hypocrite.

Calling me names proves nothing. I never, ever claimed to be prefect or anything close, but I damned sure am trying to be better to the world. I know, some people don't care in the least.

As for your "scientific evidence" it was shown years ago that people fudged data

While there were some rare mistakes made, there is plenty of good evidence. I don't expect you to accept truth, but I will call you on your lies.

I think the blue ball is going to take care of itself.

Regardless of how many species vanish? Just don't care huh

 

[ReefHound]

This climate change pissoff belongs in the Pub. And nobody here has any grounds to be sanctimonious. The carbon footprint from jetting to dive destinations and riding dive boats to the reefs far outweighs any savings from paper straws or reusable shopping bags.

 

[JamesBon92007]

I haven't noticed any comeback in the number of parrotfish. Not yet. Am always on the lookout for the beautiful big blue parrotfish, which I don't see as often. Most definitely not as many in the past two years as I am used to seeing.

Last October, on several dives from Marine World, I didn't see any parrotfish. In May and June this year I saw several. This is hardly conclusive, but at least it's a positive indicator

 

[scubadada]

I've been diving in Cozumel since 1987 and have over a thousand dives there since. There is absolutely no question that divers are hard on the reef - especially in the last 10 years or so. The number of divers on the reef on any given day is staggering. However, limiting divers in one area will only increase the numbers in others and totally ignores the largest cause - pollution and nutrients from Cozumel and other locations. The cruise piers, cruise boats, golf course, runoff, etc have been a disaster. Closing the reefs may help a small amount in some areas but will damage others and do nothing for the major cause. Sadly, the reefs are probably doomed over time. It would be very painful to Cozumel to fix this (severely limit cruise boats, huge fine ($250M - something unthinkable) for discharging waste into the sea by cruise boats in any location, close the golf course or not allow fertilizer there or anywhere else on the island, etc), capturing and cleaning as much runoff from town as possible, etc. I don't see that happening. Sad.

Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease is most likely and infectious disease. However, corals that are already compromised by other factors, may be at increased risk for infection and a bad outcome.

 

[DandyDon]

This climate change pissoff belongs in the Pub.

No, it's an issue presented in the initial news release.

 

[cvchief]

A suggestion I have would be to ban sunscreens that are not reef-safe. Dive boats could carry reef-safe sunscreen to offer or sell to guests.

We were getting low last week and hit mega. Im the back of the one big hole in the many sun screens was my reef safe sunscreen. One bottle only. So someone is buying it!

 

[JFS]

I've been diving in Cozumel since 1987 and have over a thousand dives there since. There is absolutely no question that divers are hard on the reef - especially in the last 10 years or so. The number of divers on the reef on any given day is staggering. However, limiting divers in one area will only increase the numbers in others and totally ignores the largest cause - pollution and nutrients from Cozumel and other locations. The cruise piers, cruise boats, golf course, runoff, etc have been a disaster. Closing the reefs may help a small amount in some areas but will damage others and do nothing for the major cause. Sadly, the reefs are probably doomed over time. It would be very painful to Cozumel to fix this (severely limit cruise boats, huge fine ($250M - something unthinkable) for discharging waste into the sea by cruise boats in any location, close the golf course or not allow fertilizer there or anywhere else on the island, etc), capturing and cleaning as much runoff from town as possible, etc. I don't see that happening. Sad.

Lots of pollution going into the waters especially with the exponential growth in this area. Its peculiar that the most damaged reefs are north of the southern resorts in the marine park. Closing the reefs wont do much. Here is an interesting video on Tulum which applies to the whole Area...

 

[ReefHound]

We were getting low last week and hit mega. Im the back of the one big hole in the many sun screens was my reef safe sunscreen. One bottle only. So someone is buying it!

I wish there weren't many other sunscreens there for it to hide.