Hurricane Georges,  Marathon, Fla.  Sept. 1998
                              We Know what happens above water! But......

                   "Underwater"
     Environmental Changes, Reef Health, Sandblasting, Olitic Fragmentation, Stress Migration,
                                 Relic Revelations,  Coral Graveyards, Nature's Sculpture, etc.
     This Web Site is Designed by R. F. Boileau. All pictures and contents are for public viewing only and are not public domain.

Shark checks out dead sponge...

Shark passes dead sponge...

Dead Basket Sponge!

A healthy Basket Sponge!

A large toppled Cactus-Like display of Pillar Coral.

Much existing damage is the direct result of Hurricanes!

There was an incident during a check-out dive when a Hammerhead Shark caused the fragmentation of one of the columns with its tail.

As the supporting sands were washed by the surge from beneath the limestone the weight of the Pillar Coral Stands caused it to fracture...

Having monitored the growth and damage of the Pillar Coral Patch over the past ten years we were able to identify much of the Hurricane damage.

Sand Desert! This area hosted many creatures such as the Southern Gray Rays. It has been barren for some time since the Hurricane. We coined this as Stress Migration.

Our observations show that some areas are recovering slower while others are back to normal (Plus some!). Also we have noticed Restructuring which is the result of larger sand movement.

The early sites  evaluated revealed almost no activity. In some areas  tests showed the Sea Creatures present did not respond to stimulus. Feeding test were performed at various sites.

By December some areas we visited show improved marine animal activity and interaction .

There is still much evidence at this time that some Primary Reef Structures that may not recover.

The reason may be due to what we describe as Sand Blasting! The vast amounts of sand erosion or shifting.

One effects of Sand Blasting is Relic Revelation.WOW! This area has cannon balls, pottery shards, ballast stones etc. Unbelievable.

This area had sand removed, soft coral and hard coral damage. Notice the cannon ball and the displaced Coral Head.

At first I was in total disbelief. The more we surveyed the more we discovered. Sue finds a musket ball. All the wreck material was visual.

Everywhere I looked there was an assortment of ballast stone and pea rock. But at this site there is the still lingering questions one of which is "How many ships?"

No, it is not a snow ball! This area had at least 3 feet of sand removed, exposing a track of various caliber cannon balls and wreck debris.

While performing a long distant survey swim we re-discovered a wreck which was greatly exposed as a result of the Hurricane. A large ballast pile.

This contemporary wreck site revealed  30 percent more exposed debris  after the Hurricane.

Due to the elevation of dense limestone formation and a  minimum of sand,  this site showed little impact.

Depending on the type of sessile organism, the Hurricane effects varied from light bruising to total relocation.

Divers help resurrect many soft and hard corals. Many larger coral heads have been toppled as a result of the Hurricane...

The Hurricane Relocation Program has moved many soft corals to diversified environments ranging all the way to land base.

Sue spent three days exploring and finding thousands of basket sponges and varieties of marine specimens that had washed  ashore.

Tons and tons of Sea Grass along miles and miles of shore line.

Sue evaluates soft corals and assorted Algae.

Wow! Many uprooted Australian Pines tower over Sue.

                    Middle Keys Scuba Center, 11511 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Fla.33050   (305) 743-2902

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