There have been many questions about the Stony Coral Disease.
Last week, STINAPA announced that Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease was identified on Bonaire at Karpata, dive site #9. The recent article informed us that STINAPA and DCNA closed two dive sites in hopes of containing the spread of the disease, also called skittle-D.
In the press release, STINAPA mentioned the proper way to disinfect gear for divers. Of course, the unfortunate news of skittle-D identified on Bonaire raises many questions. Asking questions shows us that people care and WANT to help protect our reef in the best way possible.
STINAPA’s video can answer commonly asked questions about skittle-D.
Skittle-D is an aggressive disease, and we need your help to save our reef on Bonaire. The video below will answer questions about identifying and reporting skittle-D and disinfecting your gear. Please take this seriously. Many visitors love to visit the island for multiple dives a day. Of course, disinfecting gear between every single dive may be annoying, but we all have to band together and help fight the spread of skittle-D. I would rather take the time to wash my gear after every dive than wonder if I contributed to the cause of the reef dying, wouldn’t you?
When asked if windsurfers, kitesurfers, and snorkelers should disinfect their gear, STINAPA made it clear that everything needs to be disinfected.
“Everything that comes in contact with the water from a different island or country should be disinfected. Especially the first dive, snorkel, or any water activity in Bonaire. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Skittle-D can devastate a colony that has taken over 100 years to grow in six weeks! Please disinfect your gear properly after every single dive and share this information with friends and family participating in any water activity on Bonaire.
How to report it?
(Source: STINAPA)
