Cayman Islands: Extensive coral spawning one year after Hurricane Ivan

The annual coral spawning that occurs every Fall/Autumn in the Caribbean was not interrupted nor effected by the 2004 Hurricane Ivan.

The reefs of the Cayman Islands demonstrated that they are in excellent health with a grand display of coral spawning.

Over the last 3 years, the dive operator Ocean Frontiers in the East End of Grand Cayman has been studying and documenting this rarely experienced event. With the expertise of Marine Biologist Dr. Alexander Mustard, divers in the Cayman Islands have had a 100% success rate of being in the right place at the right time to witness this 30 minute show that happens just once a year.

Over the weekend of Sept 24th & 25th, 20 Divers received a PADI Distinctive Specialty Certification. Before the coral spawning dives everyone attended a lecture by Dr. Alexander Mustard and Instructor Steven Schultz. To complete the certification all divers participated in the coral spawning dive and identified the different types of corals and observed the spawning process.

Living up to its name, the most spectacular coral to watch spawn is the 'Star Coral'. This year a new species, Flower Coral, was added to the list of the 10 different coral types we have logged as spawning at the study site location.

For more information on coral spawning dives in 2006, click here.

And for an up-to-the-minute diver blog, click here.

Source: www.scubadiving.com