When I first started diving finding healthy stag horn and elk horn coral was easy.  Unfortunately, finding healthy stag horn and elk horn coral has become more more difficult more recently.   You don’t have to look very far in the headlines to see various headlines about coral bleaching.   Unfortunately there have been size-able beaching incidents on the Great Barrier reef and around the world.   According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2014 through the end of 2016 will likely be the longest coral bleaching event ever recorded.  The current bleaching event is largely blamed on global warming.  There can be a number of causes of coral bleaching causes, which among others include:

1. oxygen starvation caused by an increase in zooplankton levels as a result of over fishing;
2.  increased solar irradiance (photo-synthetically active radiation and ultraviolet light);
3.  changes in water chemistry (in particular acidification caused by CO₂ pollution;
4. increased sedimentation (due to silt runoff);
5.  bacterial infections,; 
6. changes in salinity herbicides;
7.  cyanide fishing;
8.  mineral dust from African dust storms caused by drought;  and 
9. four common sunscreen ingredients, that are non-biodegradable that  can wash off of skin and on to coral.

Unfortunately, most of these bleaching causes have a direct relationship to the impact that human beings have on the coral reefs around the world.

Once in a while in my travels I have come across a few dedicated individuals who are trying to help stem the “tide” and preserve parts of the reef. On Cayman Brac I had a chance to dive with Capt. Phil and Roxanne from the Scuba Shack who are care takers for a project to regenerate stag horn and Elk horn coral. Their project is still in the early stages but hold great promise.

Some of the coral starting pieces are attached to concrete blocks.  Other starter pieces are tied to hanging floats.

Let’s hope that these new coral clipping take and we have lots of new coral growth.