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Trip Reports: Dive conditions after Ivan
Bonaire Talk: Trip Reports: Archives: Archives 2000 to 2005: Archives - 2004-08-02 to 2005-05-08: Dive conditions after Ivan
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James A. Platz (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 10:52 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Bonaire trip report – “After Ivan”

Just a short report here, based on my experience, of the diving conditions immediately following hurricane Ivan:

Wednesday, the day that Ivan came closest to Bonaire, there essentially was no diving. At noon the sea became increasingly rougher, accompanied by increasing winds and rain. However, the conditions here never got worse than a typical summer squall that we often experience on the Maine coast.

Thursday, the typically beautiful Bonairean weather returned, but the boats were not going out due to the rough water, basically swells, that would create a dangerous condition if boats were loading people and equipment at the pier. I did a shore dive at Bari Reef. From the shoreline to about the 5 meter depth the visibility was very limited due to sand particles suspended in the water. At 8 meters the visibility was a healthy 15 meters. The conditions were fine for a nice dive, although not the usual Bonaire standards. A thin veil of sand covered much of the reef at the 5 to 12 meter depth range, kind of like a dusting of new fallen snow. There were lots of hungry fish out feeding because they were not able to maintain their normal feeding schedule during the passage of the storm. There appeared to be no damage to the reef. There was no debris, and I did not see anything broken.

Friday, divers were reporting that the visibility at Bari Reef was very limited even to the 15 meter level. So, I went on a late morning boat dive to Andrea II. Conditions were excellent, good visibility in the shallows and at depth, the usual Bonaire standards. I observed no effects on the reef from the hurricane. In the afternoon I went on a boat dive to South Bay (Klein). Visibility was the usual 30 meters, and again I observed no ill effects on the reef from Ivan.

In summary, based on my observations, it appears that everything below the surface at the areas where I dove seems to have escaped hurricane Ivan unharmed.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Cousino (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1004) on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 11:32 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

James, Thanks for your post.

Great images on your website, all that is except for the one called goldentailmoray:-{)} That one jumped out of my monitor at me. Can you tell I do not like eels? When were those (color) photos taken?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mary pequinot (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #386) on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 11:32 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the update. I know everyone (including me) was worried about reef damage.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4102) on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 12:52 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank you for the update, Jim and I wanted to compliment you on your website and gorgeous photos. Absolutely breathtaking work. CArole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4103) on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 12:59 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jim, I neglected to welcome you to the board! Nice to have you join us on BT!! Ayo. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By andrew hamilton (BonaireTalker - Post #28) on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 1:49 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi James,
must admit to surprise in reading your report. We were on Bonaire from the 3rd to the 15th and did 14 dives before the hurricane and 12 after. I must admit to taking a professional interest in what effect it had as I started life as a marine biologist. Whilst I concur that initially there seemed to be a more fish activity after the storms (particularly among the fish feeding above rather than on the reef) both my wife and I have vis falling off markedly (up to 50%) on the first day or so - in some cases down to 5m. After an improvement on the 11th there seemed to be another decline which probably correlates with a brief mini bloom caused by nutrient run off from the land. Fortunately I doubt this lasted long, and I imagine by now that vis is back to 15-20m. What surprised me most was your view that there had been no physical damage to the reef. In almost all the repeat dives (before and after the storm) my wife and I did we noted damage to corals growing on the upper reef terrace (depth 1-8m). Thus at Andrea 1 we noted damage to elkhorn and shallow corals, at 1001 steps the significant shallow water star and elkhorn corals had in our view been badly knocked about, and at Margate Bay there was damage to staghorn. There was no obvious damage at sites where the water is immediately deeper (ie Oil slick), and shallow water brain corals ie at bachelors beach and elsewhere seemed immune. On the deeper reef there was no obvious structural damage but here concern must centered on what effect the silting you noted is having (all sites we visited had a fine deposit of silty material). This will certainly stress the corals (and to some extent the sponges etc). Water temperatures also seemed very high to us, which would add an additional stress. It is to be hoped that these factors rapidly dissipate - perhaps someone from the marine station could give some input? So in summary - to our eyes there has been noteable damage to shallow water staghorn and elkhorn corals in shallow sites (upper reef terrace) - I regard this as particularly unfortunate as its seems to me that these sites were being recolonised by coral. I believe not too long ago prior to another hurricane related event the upper terraces of many sites were covered in these corals, which were then destroyed by swell 5 years ago. It looks to me that recolonisation has been harmed, in some cases quite substantially - I have 40% damage estimate written in my dive book for staghorn in a few sites.

Just as another related point - at one of the sites we dived for the first time (18 palms) we noted large amounts of what we took to be an unpleasant red/brown alga/bacteria growing in abundance on sand between corals at depths of 8m and below (it has the appearance of a scummy material). I would guess that this site in common with others around the town receives a fair share of run off (this one is next to one of the main inlets) so I assume that its because of nutrient excess in the water - I dont necessarily think its a good thing to be seeing? nutrient excess of reefs dont go well together as far as I am aware. This got me thinking (this is my second trip to Bonaire). How and where is sewage and waste treated in Bonaire? we dont recall seeing a treatment plant. Can anyone advise? I would hate to see the reef damaged by run off into the sea.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By andrew hamilton (BonaireTalker - Post #29) on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 1:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sorry I forgot to add - there were also a fair few sea fans etc washed up - particularly on the wild side(presumably from deeper water), and we recall commenting on the bashed about appearance of some of them when we dived. More stove pipe sponges also seemed to be at rest after the storm as well.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Cousino (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1008) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 7:23 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for your detailed post Andrew. I bet if 20 experienced Bonaire divers were to write their assessments of conditions before and after Ivan, there would be 20 slightly different reports. We all see things a little different. I know I focus on corals and sponges, and my dive buddy John sees fish, octopus etc.. that I pass right by.

In three weeks days I hope to start posting daily (from Bonaire) in lieu of a trip report when I return home. My observations will of course be based on current conditions (30+ days post Ivan) and will be from my point of view.

You were an incredible infant Andrew, starting life as a marine biologist and all;-{)}

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By andrew hamilton (BonaireTalker - Post #31) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 8:09 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

LOL Tom, I hasten to add I meant my scientific career.

Tom do you know what happens to waste water on Bonaire? I spoke to several business people about the referendum etc and all were very keen to see the island expand tourism significantly. However increasing tourism imposes its own costs, particularly potentially on the environment (which is the biggest draw in Bonaire based on the reef). Could the island take more tourists without damage to the reef? So many reefs worldwide have been damaged by effluent discharge and run off and I wonder how this is being dealt with on Bonaire. I have the horrible feeling that as is common in most island states (and is true still in coastal regions of the UK) that waste water may be simply piped out into the sea. Anyone any knowledge on this (I imagine it might be a somewhat contentious issue so i dont necessarily think I'll get any clarification from government sources!)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susanf (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #925) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 9:11 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Andrew,
This is from memory, but if you scan back issues of the Bonaire Reporter on line, you'll find some mention of it. My memory is probably full of holes, so you'd be best served to do so. :-)

There had been a plan for an ecologically friendly waste-treatment process that had been started, I think but the money is running or has already run out.

So now, there has been some noise saying that they've done most of it, and although there are voices saying that without finishing the project the effort will be for naught, the government is making a big thing of it, and patting themselves on the back about how much they accomplished to lessen the environmental impact.

If someone on-island or more up on this subject than I wants to weigh in and say whether I've got it right or I'm full of bullchips, please do so. :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #663) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 10:32 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Susan

Remember Cap'n Don's now has their own environmentally friendly waste treatment, I think this is the only one on the island.

I thought the central treatment facility still does not have the funding and they were applying for an EU grant.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Cousino (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1010) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 2:09 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Andrew, I have seen "Honey Trucks" (thanks for the term Mary W.) at various times. I had read on this board that it is pumped into the ocean on the northern side of the west coast. If it is true, I hope that the treatment facility mentioned above is finished soon.

KUDOS to Habitat for their forward thinking.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech (Moderator - Post #1983) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 2:13 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

From memory...
The waste treatment plant has been planned and the money has been promised to pay for it. There is a local water treatment comittee that is working with DROB to see this thing gets built. The initial plan involves laying sewages pipes to some homes and resorts. The latest I heard was some discussion about the level of treatment the sewage would be receiving and how to fund the every day costs of the operation.

Current waste is collected in septic tanks which are pumped out via truck and taken to a central dumping site which I believe is inland and not the ocean. Some of the older homes might have pits rather than tanks. And some may still have pipes into the sea, however if renovations are done to a house they have been changing all over to tanks. When the brick promonade was installed along the harbour front many houses did this.

Some resorts have grey water systems for the watering of the landscape. Some have stratigically planned landscaping to better cope with the desert conditions as well.

About the water temperature: late August, September, and possible early October are our traditionally highest water temps months. So it is not uncommonly warm for this time of year. Actually based on our dive yesterday with a water temp of 82F it is slightly cooler than usual in the shallows. This is a midday dive on the shallow shelf - no deeper than 35 feet. This month we would have expected it a degree or 2 warmer. Water temps at the coolest time - maybe 78F in the shallows.

Yesterday at the underwater cleanup dive in front of Yellow Submarine and north, I uprighted 2 small boulder corals and a large purple sponge. I removed silt from one badly covered coral which may not make it. I say this because all the other corals I ran into had successfully removed the silt on their own. The sand had definitely been stirred up but I did not see any obvious newly broken coral. This is easy to spot because of the intense white at the break.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1526) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 2:18 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I know of a Doctoral student who was living here and studied something about birds out near the riding stables. Waste was being pumped out there so much so that he had to leave the project. This was shared with me first hand. Not sure if it's still going on..

Ann

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Cousino (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1011) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 2:36 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Linda, Thanks for the correction regarding septic disposal. Folks I apologize, I remembered having read about it and have spent a while looking through the archives. I now realize that what I stated earlier was just another off-island BTer's speculation.

http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/27/17583.html#POST45344

Thanks also for your participation in the clean up.

Grey water can be put to good use watering vegetation. Hopefully the detergents and other cleaners which are in this water are not in their own right damaging to the environment.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By andrew hamilton (BonaireTalker - Post #32) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 3:13 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for all the feedback folks, particularly from Linda. I am delighted to hear that a lot of places are operating on septic tank systems, though clearly any improvement to waste disposal has got to have visitor support as we all want to minimise what may find its way into the sea. I imagine it remains a hot topic, particularly if, as some folk on the island want to see, the number of visitors expands.
Thanks for the info also about the silting and the water temps. My wifes computer picked up water temps of just over 30C in a couple of places which I took to be on the high side even allowing for the time of year. I guess all of us are now aware of how water temperature increases have been implicated in bleaching events - the Maldives suffered very badly a few years ago so lets hope there is nothing similar in the Caribbean. Its also good to hear that many of the corals are clearing themselves. I dont know whether soft corals are better at this than hard corals.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susanf (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #926) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 5:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Linda,
That's the project I remember reading about (DROB rang a bell), thanks.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Claire Gallicano (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 5:37 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Kevin and I noticed absolute changes to the underwater environment after Ivan. There was white silt covering corals and rocks, in varying depths, like new fallen snow. I took the (awful) plunge to touch something, by lightly brushing a fallen star coral pod - the sediment is about a mm thick. This was about 2 days after Ivan hit. We noticed clumps of coral that fell too, especially star and brain corals. Some areas, like South Klein had landslides of star coral pods...The sponges seemed unharmed, very little damage wherever we dived. Fish activity seemed normal to less than normal, but at twilight we did get some activity.

The elkhorn coral we saw at Belnam beach was intact.
BonaireClaire

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susanf (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #927) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 5:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Oh, Brian - yes, I do know that about Captain Don's. They are (understandably) proud of their efforts in that arena. It's nice to see a resort be environmentally conscious.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marlene Robinson (BonaireTalker - Post #12) on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 10:11 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I wonder if we could get some kind of rough and ready assessment from the Marine Park Staff regarding the immediate effects from Ivan, and also a kind of 'prognosis' based on the event.

Thanks to all of you who are reporting your observations. And thanks also for conversations regarding runoff and sewage treatment. We have just closed on property on Bonaire and are in the process of designing our house - I am doing research on self-contained systems for dealing with waste water and sewage, and appreciate any references.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan at Bon Bini Divers (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #107) on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 7:37 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Marlene,

See the Tourist Board's site, http://www.infobonaire.com/tcb/Ivan. There is a page there for reef assessment with a statement from Stinapa (the organization which manages the Bonaire Marine Park).

Hope this helps.

Susan

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Thompson (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #10) on Friday, October 22, 2004 - 2:08 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

James what is the address of your web site, I would like to check out the Golden Tail Moray

 


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