Trip Report Raja Ampat Dive Lodge-March 2025

[Joneill]

So we know for a fact that some of the coral did die? The bleaching itself is just a precautionary measure to protect the coral against the high temperature (or other circumstances) so if it goes back normal within a shorter time span, coral can go back to normal too. But here it sounds like a longer time with too warm water and some coral actually dead, right?

I’m pretty sure that bleaching is not a precautionary measure - it is a direct response to environmental stress and leaves the coral in an extremely vulnerable state for continued survival.

While I believe the mechanisms are not fully understood, the result is that the corals eject the algae that they normally depend on to generate most of their food. Corals can only survive for so long in this bleached state before they die (I guess it’s that they starve) and become overgrown. How long that is depends on the coral species, but it seems we are talking weeks to a few months - so if the stress is not removed pretty quickly, it won’t recover.

Hopefully, we will see more recent/current trip reports so we can better understand if there is recovery or expansion of the issue. Otherwise, there does not seem to be a lot of “official” communication with which we can understand what the current state is.

 

[Christian]

I’m pretty sure that bleaching is not a precautionary measure - it is a direct response to environmental stress and leaves the coral in an extremely vulnerable state for continued survival.

While I believe the mechanisms are not fully understood, the result is that the corals eject the algae that they normally depend on to generate most of their food. Corals can only survive for so long in this bleached state before they die (I guess it’s that they starve) and become overgrown. How long that is depends on the coral species, but it seems we are talking weeks to a few months - so if the stress is not removed pretty quickly, it won’t recover.

Hopefully, we will see more recent/current trip reports so we can better understand if there is recovery or expansion of the issue. Otherwise, there does not seem to be a lot of “official” communication with which we can understand what the current state is.

I’m pretty sure that bleaching is not a precautionary measure - it is a direct response to environmental stress and leaves the coral in an extremely vulnerable state for continued survival.

While I believe the mechanisms are not fully understood, the result is that the corals eject the algae that they normally depend on to generate most of their food. Corals can only survive for so long in this bleached state before they die (I guess it’s that they starve) and become overgrown. How long that is depends on the coral species, but it seems we are talking weeks to a few months - so if the stress is not removed pretty quickly, it won’t recover.

Hopefully, we will see more recent/current trip reports so we can better understand if there is recovery or expansion of the issue. Otherwise, there does not seem to be a lot of “official” communication with which we can understand what the current state is.

Precautionary perhaps the wrong word (english not my first language), but it is a reaction to protect itself. Preventive measures might be the word I was looking for. So it seem some coral didn’t make it and actually die off. If anyone have more reports post June 2025… please share.

 

[TostitoBandito]

So we know for a fact that some of the coral did die? The bleaching itself is just a precautionary measure to protect the coral against the high temperature (or other circumstances) so if it goes back normal within a shorter time span, coral can go back to normal too. But here it sounds like a longer time with too warm water and some coral actually dead…

Yes undoubtedly some will be dead. This is the largest global bleaching event on record (actually beginning in February 2023), and dangerous temperatures have been sustained over a long period of time spanning months in many areas. Previous similar events were 1998, 2010, and 2014-2017. As temperatures rise these events become longer stretching over multiple years, and at some point will just become the norm. Which is why I'm trying to get as much diving in as I can ASAP. Over the next 20 years a lot of the reefs are going to be seriously impacted or die off completely.

 

[Christian]

Yes undoubtedly some will be dead. This is the largest global bleaching event on record (actually beginning in February 2023), and dangerous temperatures have been sustained over a long period of time spanning months in many areas. Previous similar events were 1998, 2010, and 2014-2017. As temperatures rise these events become longer stretching over multiple years, and at some point will just become the norm. Which is why I'm trying to get as much diving in as I can ASAP. Over the next 20 years a lot of the reefs are going to be seriously impacted or die off completely.

Yes undoubtedly some will be dead. This is the largest global bleaching event on record (actually beginning in February 2023), and dangerous temperatures have been sustained over a long period of time spanning months in many areas. Previous similar events were 1998, 2010, and 2014-2017. As temperatures rise these events become longer stretching over multiple years, and at some point will just become the norm. Which is why I'm trying to get as much diving in as I can ASAP. Over the next 20 years a lot of the reefs are going to be seriously impacted or die off completely.

Yes I remember them all. There has been bleaching before that too. There was a big one in Milne Bay in the mid 90’s, but coral survived. Sometimes they die, like in 1998 which was (I thought) the biggest one yet. Killed most of the coral in the Maldives. So the 2024 in December worse?
I am afraid I think you’re right about the future of the worlds coral reefs. Looks bad.

 

[diveUAE]

So what happened to the bleached coral, do we know? Reports? Did it die off or did temperatures go down and coral have a chance to live on?

We were in RA in July and corals were recovering according to another passenger on out LOB - she's a marine biologist specialising in corals growth, so even though this was her first time in RA i believe her. We only saw minor bleaching during our dives in central and Pam/Fam area.
Dived Sauwandarek several times (ended up being one of our favourite dive sites) and only saw a few corals with bleaching.

Yes undoubtedly some will be dead. This is the largest global bleaching event on record (actually beginning in February 2023), and dangerous temperatures have been sustained over a long period of time spanning months in many areas. Previous similar events were 1998, 2010, and 2014-2017. As temperatures rise these events become longer stretching over multiple years, and at some point will just become the norm. Which is why I'm trying to get as much diving in as I can ASAP. Over the next 20 years a lot of the reefs are going to be seriously impacted or die off completely.

This!! Sadly. We were supposed to go to Peru/Machu Picchu this year, but after our trip to Malaysia/Perhentian last year I realised how short time the coral reefs has left (I must admit I don't think the reefs will survive 20 years:-() So we're also on the "dive right now as much as we can", hence our trip to RA in July. I would love to take 3-6 months off and just travel, but just not possible right now.