Thanks to a joint effort between Royal Caribbean and Stuart’s Cove Dive Shop, I had the opportunity to survey several reefs off the west and north coasts of New Providence, Bahamas. While the dive guide warned me of massive Acropora spp. die-off (expected) and stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD; also expected), what I did not anticipate was the degree of bleaching. Having visited in October (2022), I am under the impression that the bleached corals are in the recovery phase, and the star corals in particular are likely to survive this past event.

Other noteworthy observations:

  1. Virtual absence of big fish and no sharks (divemasters have not seen them in years).

  2. Large, mostly intact Acropora palmata colonies can still be found (see pics.).

  3. SCTLD is/was clearly an issue, though few colonies now have disease lesions.

  4. Few dead brain corals were seen; perhaps they were never common here?

  5. There is an NGO doing good work in the country: Perry Institute for Marine Science. Go support them!

Check out the (currently unedited) pics of Goulding Cay Reef (west coast) and King Reef (north coast). Otherwise, here are my current favorites as of April 9, 2023. Note that even in the most beautiful, paling corals can/may be seen.