DEEP DIVE DOWN CAYMAN'S WALL

RESEARCH MISSION
Deep Dive Down Cayman’s Wall:
Exploring Connections between Shallow and Deep Reef Communities

The project will explore the tropical communities occuring at the deepest extent of coral reefs (~400 ft) in the Caribbean using Deep See's Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) "Little Tyche". We will also explore the Bloody Bay Wall to nearly 2000 ft.

Scientists, reef managers, and fisherman alike need to understand the connections between the shallow reef and deeper reef communities to understand whether deep reefs have potential for reseeding the shallow reefs which have been declining for decades. We have chosen the spectacular Bloody Bay Wall for this study because these reefs have been studied extensively for the past 9 years by CCMI scientists. Our work on the shallow reefs indicates major losses to the coral community but we have no idea whether these losses may also be reflected on the deep reef. Much of the loss is attributed to stressful impacts of warming ocean temperatures, so our first guess would suggest less impact on the deeper reefs.

The Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), currently based on Grand Cayman, is a tool that can be fundamental to understanding some key concerns about the continued decline of the shallow reefs. First, we need to assess the overall status of the wall reefs. How much coral remains? Is disease active on the wall? How much and to what depths is fleshy algae competing with corals? At what scales both in time a space are reefs connected? Is there a high level of overlap between shallow and deep reef species? Is it reasonable to consider the deep reef corals potential seeding mechanism for shallow reefs? Or are losses on shallow reefs reducing the downward replenishment resulting in losses on deeper reefs ? Are there differences in resistance to disease, bleaching, and other stresses between populations of corals of the same species in deep vs shallow depths?

In addition, we will explore the farthest depths ever reached on Bloody Bay (2000 ft tether) so that we can begin to formulate an understanding of the geological controls on reef development. We will look at sea level influences on the structural development of the Bloody Bay wall and will explore whether tectonics played an active role in the modern reef development.

Underlying, we will note and photograph artifacts that might occur along Bloody Bay to continue to uncover the maritime history of the Cayman Islands.

THE RESEARCHER(S)
Oceanographer Carrie Manfrino is president and founder of the Central Caribbean Marine Institute. Her Ph.D. was granted by the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science in Marine Geology and Geophysics. She is an associate professor of oceanography and brings a lifetime of experience diving and researching both modern and ancient coral reefs. For fun, she teaches college courses in tropical ecology and conservation at the Little Cayman Research Center.

DIVING ACTIVITIES
Please note this is a special program where we will be using a ROV to explore Little Cayman's Bloody Bay Wall. You will not be diving since it is the ROV that is underwater. However, there are other dives you may do while on the project.