Palancar Monitoring Dive June 16, 2007

Todd Barber conducted a monitoring dive of Palancar Reef for the National Marine Park with Park staff on June 16, 2007. Conclusions: 1) Still one of the best dive sites in the Carribean. 2) Coral Diversity was rated at HIGH. 3) Coral Diseases rated at VERY LOW 4) Coral Bleaching was rated at VERY LOW 5) Nutrient Levels: HIGH at sea floor, LOW at Reef Crests and above sea floor. 6) Red Slime Algae (Cyanobacteria) OUTBREAK LEVELS. The nutrients were coming from the underground fresh water "centote" system and because the water coming from the centotes was clear it is presumed the source of the nutrients (nitrogen) was from Mainland Mexico. [Local sources of fresh water are stained like "tea"] The nutrients were causing a wide spread outbreak of "red slime algae" cyanobacteria which covered and kiiled many corals near the sea floor. There is little the Marine Park can do to offset this nutrient run off and only national water treatment policy can help reduce the threat. Pictures in this album document the algal outbreak.