43 North Wall dive sites to close as coral disease spreads

[mi000ke]

Was it Tammi you emailed? We have several staff members who are volunteering for DOE on this, and she is our point of contact.

Tony

Yes, Tammi.

 

[tkaelin]

Sad news, that's a large area of closure. Many favorite sites there. If I was on Grand Cayman, I would volunteer to assist

Thanks for posting the map.

 

[KathyV]

Here is the link for the article in the Compass:

43 North Wall dive sites to close as coral disease spreads - Cayman Compass

 

[wildbill9]

Masks for coral and coral social distancing....problem solved.

 

[scubadada]

Masks for coral and coral social distancing....problem solved.

If only is was so simple, even a person could do it

 

[apenland01]

So fish and other sea creatures don't spread it, but divers do? Not sure I'm seeing the full picture here. I've never heard of this, but it seems like a pathogen that is moving with or without human interaction...

 

[mi000ke]

Google scholar search seems to show not a lot of research done on how it spreads. Mostly still trying to determine the cause. Here is a recent research report, which suggests that it is a highly contagious pathogen spread by currents.

Spatial Epidemiology of the Stony-Coral-Tissue-Loss Disease in Florida

and here is an article about the research article

Major study improves understanding of stony coral tissue loss disease | News & Press

 

[Doctorfish]

I think closing off sites to prevent spread is magical thinking. All it will do is put more diver pressure on the west side sites. Grand Cayman was already nearly off my list because of crowded conditions, cost, traffic. If you add dead reefs to that mix, GC will definitely not be in my future plans.

This is very bad news for the Cayman Islands.

 

[loady]

What’s the status in May 2021 of Cozumel
Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease?
Are any reefs still healthy?

 

[scubadada]

What’s the status in May 2021 of Cozumel
Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease?
Are any reefs still healthy?

This is a Cayman Islands thread, try again ____