Here we present a report card on the status of the reefs you dive at. The details can be seen in the table below, but to summarize for the last five years.
Corals experience thermal stress, the main cause of bleaching, when sea surface temperatures exceed 1°C (1.8°F) above the maximum summertime mean. This stress worsens as the heat anomaly persists. Degree Heating Week (DHW) characterizes how much heat stress has accumulated in an area over the past 12 weeks (3 months) by adding up any temperature exceeding the bleaching threshold during that time period. When the DHW reaches 4°C-weeks (7.2°F-weeks), significant coral bleaching is likely, especially in more sensitive species. When the DHW exceeds 8°C-weeks (14.4°F-weeks), widespread bleaching and mortality from thermal stress may occur.
| Location | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Bahamas | ||
| Andros | 10.22 | ~3.9 |
| Bimini | 16.54 | 8.85 |
| Cat Island | 15.23 | ~6 |
| Conception Island | 15.17 | ~7.5 |
| Eleuthera | 16.92 | 8.33 |
| Grand Abaco | 7.34 | <1.0 |
| Grand Bahama | 12.09 | ~5 |
| Great Exuma | 14.47 | ~6 |
| Great Harbor Cay | 11.03 | ~2 |
| Long Island | 14.07 | ~5.5 |
| Nassau | 12.67 | ~4 |
| San Salvador | 14.89 | ~6.5 |
| Shroud Cay | 13.79 | 5.46 |
| Turks & Caicos | ||
| 21.29 | 17.19 | |
| Caribbean | ||
| Antigua | 19.91 | 22.10 |
| Aruba | 19.34 | 22.17 |
| Barbados | 18.60 | 23.10 |
| Belize | 19.69 | 19.14 |
| Bonaire | 19.07 | 22.32 |
| British Virgin Islands | 17.90 | 21.36 |
| Cayman Islands | 17.71 | 9.79 |
| Curacao | 19.67 | 22.83 |
| Dominica | 19.03 | 20.44 |
| Grenada | 17.62 | 23.01 |
| Guadeloupe | 20.95 | 22.21 |
| Roatan | 13.31 | 14.68 |
| Jamaica | 22.17 | 17.35 |
| Martinique | 18.22 | 21.10 |
| Montserrat | 18.99 | 21.17 |
| St. Lucia | 18.45 | 21.79 |
| Tobago | 16.93 | 21.41 |
| US Virgin Islands | 17.18 | 21.16 |
| Mexico | ||
| Cancun | 16.44 | 16.58 |
| Cozumel | 16.32 | 14.70 |
| South America | ||
| Galapagos | 21.18 | 17.19 |
| Indian Ocean | ||
| Mauritius | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Maldives | 1.0 | 6.07 |
| North America | ||
| Florida Keys | 19.55 | 12.65 |
| Pacific Islands | ||
| Fiji | 8.79 | <1.0 |
| Palau | 1.0 | 9.97 |
| Atlantic | ||
| Azores | 8.27 | 18.13 |