Unhappy Earth Day

[Doctorfish]

The white coral theoretically should recover, but I believe most recovery occurs over the winter when the water is cooler. It is now mid April and there was still a lot of white. I certainly hope the coral heals. Water temp last week was 82.5

No one commented re Stony Coral Disease and no precautions being taken. I personally can't differentiate appearance from bleached coral.

 

[Alucard]

Based on what I have seen, bleaching is pretty much a pure white, and the textures are intact. Stony Coral Disease is mainly grey and causes the surfaces to smooth more. That's not a scientific comparison, of course.

 

[cfberry]

I'm in Little Cayman right now. Wasn't here last year so can't compare, but I don't agree that the coral is "almost all bleached or dead looking." I honestly don't see much bleaching here. I saw a LOT more bleaching in Roatan earlier this year, and more SCTLD in Bonaire (in particular on Bonaire's brain coral). If anything, it looks like the recent hurricane deposited sand on some corals. But to say it's all bleached or dead looking simply ain't true.

good to know there i still some healthy reefs

 

[tursiops]

I personally can't differentiate appearance from bleached coral.

Thank you for your honesty! It is indeed difficult, but there are some good clues, for example what kind of coral it is, because SCTLD does not attack all species. White staghorn, for example, is always bleaching, never SCTLD.
Also see, for example:

https://www.agrra.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SCTLD-ID-sep-2020-Bruckner.pdf

and

Coral Bleaching — VI-CDAC

Coral bleaching occurs when coral colonies face environmental stressors like extremes in temperature or salinity, pollution, sedimentation, low oxygen, or disease.

www.vicoraldisease.org

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

At LCBR now through next week. Today was our first day of diving. Last visit here was 2018 and 2019. Wind was up all day so too sporty to make it over to the BB Wall. Stayed on the lee side for all three dives. I felt like the coral was in decent shape but the overall fish life seemed more sparse than normal. Also the vis was not great today. I'd say 40 - 60 on the morning dives and no better than 40 on the afternoon dive. will have to see how the rest of the week goes.

BUT..........On the afternoon dive on the shallow wreck of the Sodo Trader.......our group was treated to a very brief sighting of a 7-8 foot Lemon Shark!!!! And no.....I don't have a pic! We were on the Sea Dreamer with Fabio and Brassy...