Blogs
CCMI RESEMBID project reveals the crucial role of diversity in coral restoration and climate change resilience
The Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) and project partner, Dr John Bruno, University of North Carolina, have completed a two-year coral restoration research project investigating how Acropora corals with different genetic makeup (genotypes) respond to climate change-related stress.
The project, which is supported by RESEMBID, funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France, examined key desirable traits of different coral genotypes that could translate to increased resilience at a restoration site or coral nursery. These traits included resistance to coral disease, faster growth rates and tolerance of warmer waters.
CCMI’s project initially aimed to examine and test thermal tolerance within a laboratory setting, through controlled experiments. However, the extended period of warmer waters in the Cayman Islands over summer 2023 provided a unique opportunity to monitor responses in the lab and on the reefs of Little Cayman.
Although devastating to watch corals bleach and die, the bleaching event gave CCMI’s researchers invaluable insight into how different genotypes respond to conditions that will become more common in the future due to climate change, in both natural and lab-based environments.
Both the lab-based and field studies found that no one coral genotype clearly displayed all desirable characteristics that would be linked to resilience. Instead, some genotypes showed higher resistance to coral disease, but lower thermal tolerance, whereas others displayed higher thermal tolerance and less bleaching, but slower growth rates or lower disease resistance.
In the field, all corals in the nursery bleached or died during the coral bleaching event, except one specific genotype with remaining healthy colonies which was also shown through lab results to have a higher thermal tolerance. However, this specific genotype also showed much slower growth rates than other corals.
CCMI’s Director of Research, Dr Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley explains what these results mean for coral restoration under a changing climate:
“These results emphasize the importance of maintaining genetic diversity in our standing stock of corals used for restoration to bet hedge for increased resilience against the myriad of threats that could impact survival now and in the future.”
CCMI’s results show that preserving the diversity of genetics within coral restoration projects is crucial to boost coral resilience to stress. Coral reefs are complex ecosystems that are exposed to a wide range of threats from climate change and human activity, and restoration should reflect this complexity. Boosting genetic diversity and building this into coral restoration practices is likely to be the best and only way to increase the resilience of coral reef restoration efforts in the Anthropocene.
Coral reefs are an essential ecosystem that underpin societal well-being through services such as food provision, storm protection, and economic activities. As the impacts of climate change become more severe and events like this year’s coral bleaching become more common, coral restoration is an essential tool to buy time, improve coral populations and provide hope for vulnerable coral reefs, while the world battles to reduce emissions and slow climate change.
Coral restoration may be part of the solution, but it is also highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. As such, future restoration efforts must be climate-smart, and designed around resilience-based concepts to ensure that these benefits are realised.
Through this project, CCMI has continued our commitment to science-based, innovative coral restoration, producing recommendations and a coral restoration handbook to support managers and practitioners locally and internationally with incorporating resilience principles into their restoration efforts.
CCMI has also released a video, available here: http://tinyurl.com/RESEMBID-project-outcomes, a coral restoration handbook (https://reefresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RESEMBID-HANDBOOK-2024-ENGLISH.pdf) and will be holding a press conference on 18th January at 10am EST to discuss these results and how they can be applied to climate-smart coral restoration for the future of coral reefs in a changing climate.
Register for CCMI’s coral restoration press conference here: https://fb.me/e/6er9UvEYv
It’s time to catch up with 12-year-old Mia DaPonte, New England’s youngest ever female PADI Master Scuba Diver, in her latest blog for Scubaverse!
It’s still a little too cold to get in the water here in New England. I wish I had a drysuit! To get my ocean fix, I asked my mom to take me and my friends to the Biomes Marine Biology Center.
What is Biomes? It’s a rescue center near my house that’s home to all kinds of ocean animals—and they’re all local! It’s truly awesome to experience. There are so many cool creatures there, like skates, sharks, stingrays, horseshoe crabs, tropical fish, lobsters, seahorses, octopuses, and even some reptiles that were given up by their owners.
Darwin the turtle is always fun to watch. He’s huge and has his own home, but he also gets to wander around the place on his own when he feels like it!
They have lots of touch tanks. I got to touch sharks, turtles, and even hold a horseshoe crab! (There’s a little lip on the side of their shell where you can hold them—but don’t do this without permission! Their gills always need to stay in the water.) I also touched stingrays! They felt slimy but rough at the same time.
One of my favorite things to do is see the octopus and watch it play with the toys in its tank. I always check to see if any seahorses are pregnant and look for the babies when they’re born. The babies are kept in their own tank at first to stay safe, and then moved when they’re big enough.
We got lucky this time—there was a baby skate in a mermaid’s purse that was ready to hatch any day! It was in a special tank with a light. When you press the button, the light turns on so you can see the baby skate moving around inside the purse!
As our visit was ending, the owner, Mark, sat down with us and told us how he started Biomes. When he was 14 years old, he began rescuing sea animals. His love for the ocean started when he was young—just like mine! As he got older, he started a traveling business, bringing animals to classrooms and doing shows. Eventually, he turned it into something bigger, and now Biomes is a huge center full of rescued animals.
He told us that most of the fish and animals are rescued from fishing boats or the cold waters of New England—places where tropical fish wouldn’t survive the winter. They try to rescue babies whenever they can, so they have a better chance of adapting. Darwin the turtle actually hatched in Mark’s hand!
My mom gets a pass to Biomes every year because I love going there so much. There are always new animals to see and feedings to watch. One time, I even got to feed the octopus!
If you ever come to Rhode Island, you have to check out Biomes!
Main Image: Bart Heines
Picture yourself floating in the open ocean at night, far from the familiar reefs and sandy slopes. Beneath you, the water seems endless, with no visible bottom, and all around, the deep holds mysteries that most divers never get to see. This is blackwater diving—an exciting, otherworldly experience that reveals the hidden creatures of the ocean’s depths.
Photo: Jürgen Lorösch
At Siladen Resort & Spa, located in the heart of Bunaken Marine Park, our blackwater dives offer a rare opportunity to witness marine life that ascends from the deep during the night, all while being guided by experienced instructors. But before we dive in, let’s take a closer look at the fascinating history behind this unique type of dive.
Photo: Galice Hoarau
A Brief History of Blackwater Diving
The concept of blackwater diving first emerged in Hawaii in the late 1990s, where adventurous divers sought a new way to observe marine life that typically stays far below the surface during the day. The idea was simple yet daring: dive over deep, open water at night, suspend lights from the surface, and see what creatures would rise from the depths.
Photo: Leo
What they discovered was remarkable. From larval stages of fish and invertebrates to rarely seen jelly-like creatures, blackwater diving quickly became a favorite among divers eager to explore the ocean’s mysterious nighttime migrations. The original goal was to observe the vertical migration—the largest animal migration on the planet, where millions of creatures travel from the deep toward the surface under the cover of darkness to feed.
Photo: Brandi Mueller
What Makes Blackwater Diving So Unique?
Blackwater diving is unlike any other night dive. Instead of staying close to the reef, you’re diving in the open ocean over very deep water. Lights suspended from the surface attract marine life from the depths, giving divers a chance to witness creatures in their larval stages. These tiny, often transparent organisms offer a glimpse into the earliest stages of marine life—juvenile fish, squid, shrimp, and other species that look completely different from their adult forms.
Photo: Bart Heines
The sensation of floating over seemingly infinite water, with nothing but your dive light illuminating the creatures drawn to the surface, is both exhilarating and humbling. Each dive feels like an exploration of the unknown, with new and strange creatures appearing each time.
Photo: Galice Hoarau
A Different Kind of Thrill
One of the biggest draws of blackwater diving is the thrill of discovery. Because you’re diving in such deep water, you never know exactly what you’ll see. There’s a sense of mystery and excitement that comes with each dive. Every moment feels like a potential encounter with something new—perhaps a larval octopus, a juvenile fish species, or delicate plankton moving through the dark water.
The experience of blackwater diving is both meditative and exciting. You’re floating in the open ocean, focused entirely on the small creatures illuminated by your light. It’s a chance to witness the ocean’s deep-water ecosystem in action, all while suspended in what feels like the vast unknown.
Photo: Jürgen Lorösch
For the Adventurous Photographer
If you’re into macro photography, blackwater dives offer a chance to capture rare and tiny creatures in ways you won’t find on any other dive. The creatures drawn to the lights are often small, fast-moving, and incredibly unique. Photographing them requires patience, focus, and an eye for detail, but the rewards are worth it. You’ll come away with images of marine life few people ever get to see.
Photo: Brandi Mueller
Not Quite Ready for the Deep? Try Bonfire Diving First
While blackwater diving is an incredible experience, we understand that diving over very deep water at night might feel a bit daunting, especially for those who are new to night dives. If you’re curious but not quite ready for blackwater diving, we recommend trying bonfire diving first.
Photo: Leo
Bonfire dives are conducted closer to the reef, with lights set up near the ocean floor to attract marine life from the surrounding area. These dives are less intimidating but still offer an up-close look at nocturnal creatures, including larvae, squid, and shrimp, all drawn toward the light. It’s a perfect way to get comfortable with night diving while enjoying the incredible diversity of marine life after dark.
Photo: Bart Heines
Why Try Blackwater Diving at Siladen Resort & Spa?
- Expert Guides: Our team is experienced in blackwater diving and passionate about sharing the wonders of the ocean’s deep-water migrations. You’ll be in safe hands as you venture into the unknown.
- Private, Small Groups: We keep our blackwater diving trips intimate, with a maximum of 4 guests per trip. Each dive is privately guided, ensuring a personal and focused experience tailored to your comfort level and curiosity.
- Unforgettable Encounters: With each dive, you’ll see creatures that most divers never encounter. Whether it’s juvenile fish, larval cephalopods, or tiny plankton, every blackwater dive brings new surprises.
- A Safe and Controlled Environment: While blackwater diving may seem daunting, it’s conducted with the highest safety standards. Our team ensures you’re comfortable with the equipment, the dive environment, and the procedures so that you can enjoy the thrill without worry.
Photo: Jürgen Lorösch
Ready to Dive into the Unknown?
If you’re looking for a diving adventure that pushes the boundaries of exploration, blackwater diving at Siladen Resort & Spa is an experience you won’t forget. Whether you’re fascinated by the idea of seeing life from the deep or just eager for a new underwater challenge, blackwater diving offers an unforgettable look into the ocean’s hidden worlds.
Photo: Brandi Mueller
For those looking to ease into night diving, start with our bonfire dives—a thrilling and accessible way to explore the nocturnal ocean before venturing into the deep waters of a blackwater dive.
Photo: Leo
For more information, please contact us at reservations@siladen.com.
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