Roatan reef bleaching/ health?

[KatieMac]

Currently in Roatan, been here for 6 weeks. Reef conditions are pretty much unchanged from last year. Definitely some coral bleaching, but also some healthy coral. I have seen several healthy brain coral. But the pillar coral isnt good. The fish population is slowly going down yes. The south tip, as in the dive site Texas, the reef and fish are in much better shape. Lots of fish life there. Unfortunately our planet is taking a hit, not just here. Best dive it while you can, as it will never be better than it is now. Even at home in the Puget Sound we are seeing a decline. Several nudis that we used to see are no where to be found. The seastar wasting disease is affecting the entire ecosystem along the West Coast.
Get out and dive!

I don’t Pablo‘s in Texas last week. I couldn’t believe how clear it was. And yes, healthier than the sites in West End. But this part of the island has been pretty devastated by SCTLD. Much less so bleaching. Once you get around the point, there’s a lot more soft corals and better color. I’ve not seen less fish… Certainly a different variety of fish. I can’t believe how many burrfish I’ve seen. Also an awful lot of lionfish. Somebody at our dive shop last week cut over 100 lionfish in the week and so we had a fish bake at Tita‘s.

 

[Gdog]

Pablos is great. All that tip of the island is great diving due to the currents. Im told that the seamounts out towards Cayos are in much better shape as well.