Corals in Tioman are Dying

The star newspaper reported that the Corals in Tioman are dying. This was witnessed by a group of divers who had confirmed that they had witnessed the corals had infact changed color indicating that they are dying.

A scuba trainer had commented that the color of cabbage corals, brain corals and staghorn corals have changed to white,naged turned white and the temperature of the water had increased from what used to be 25-27C to about 32C now. 32C is rather too high for coral to survive.

Deepsea distress: Divers off Pulau Batu Malang are concerned that the corals there are turning white, a signal that they are dying. Right: Some of the affected staghorn corals.
Syed Abdul Rahman led a group of divers on Sunday and Monday for activities at Kampong Salang and Pulau Batu Malang here.

His team dived 26m deep and about 300m from the Kampung Salang beach on the first day.

The following day, they were at the same depth at the Pulau Batu Malang coral site, which is 200m from Pulau Tulai.

Syed Abdul Rahman’s made the forecast the the corals in Tioman Island would die mainly due to the warmer weather. Although there are still some corals which are colorfull and untouched, but most of the are changing color adding to the sign of incoming death.

If the weather change and hopefully with more rains, the temperature will fall down and may be able to save the remaining lots.

During his short stay in Kampong Salang, the villagers were commenting on the high temperature and the increase in the number of sea urchins. The sea urchins are known to consume certain types of coral.