Key Largo Coral Reefs: Hurricane Irma Aftermath 2017

Описание: Key Largo Coral Reefs: Hurricane Irma Aftermath 2017

Key largo did not receive a direct hit, but with hurricane force winds and the resulting wave action pounding the reefs, I was very interested in getting back out to see what it all looked like. This video includes footage from Molasses reef and Sand Island Reef on December 23rd 2017 (about 3 months after the Hurricane).
The descriptions and possible causes presented in this video are based on talks with our dive masters and observation. There is little published research yet, so I will definitely be back with more solid info at a later date.
Either way, it is obvious the reefs have undergone significant change in some locations, and in other areas, the corals survived surprisingly well. Our dive masters expressed their belief that a lot of the sand was removed from Molasses Reef, leaving bare/rock/rubble bottom. I definitely see how they could say that, but it also looks like corals were hammered to pieces in some areas as well.
The fish assemblages have changed a lot as well...there are many more than I remember before, but that could be just circumstantial.
The Florida Keys reef track has been undergoing a stressful few years with widespread bleaching and disease impacting the coral. Add on a hurricane and I do worry about the reef track as a whole.
Hurricanes can actually be good for a coral reef. Broken fragments of coral will get redistributed and start growing in new areas, causing a rejuvenation of sorts. But when the water quality and conditions are not conducive to coral growth, it makes me more difficult.
I was encouraged by seeing large stands of Elkhorn still intact, and broken fragments beginning to grow where they landed…. This is nature’s way and hopefully will lead to a rebuilding of coral.
Either way, these were great dives filled with a high diversity of fish and marine life.
Until next time!

P.S.: I did delete the first posting of this video as I needed to make a few corrections.

Music from Epidemic Sound
http://www.epidemicsound.com/youtube-...

References About the Florida Keys Reef track.

Florida’s Coral Reef is Disintegrating
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2...

Florida’s Dying Reefs Could Devastate Keys’ Economy
http://www.eesi.org/articles/view/flo...

South Florida Corals Dying in “unprecedented” bleaching and disease
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/fl-...

Saving Florida’s Precious Coral Reef After Hurricanes Irma and Maria
https://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives...

Range of Conditions’s for Florida Keys Reefs After the Hurricane
http://www.travelweekly.com/North-Ame...

Divers Looking at Coral Reefs After Irma didn’t Expect what they saw down below
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/weath...

Sanctuary: Reef bruised but not destroyed
http://www.flkeysnews.com/news/local/...