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In the month September and October, the yearly “Coral Spawning” will take place.
Local divers talk about sex of the reefs, some mention sex on the reefs.
“Coral Spawning” is the phenomenon at which several coral species (but also other organisms) release their gonadal secretions into the water column at the same time under the influence of environmental circumstances such as water temperature and a very special position of the moon.
This phenomenon is a wonderful experience and all divers on Curacao can enjoy it. The scientists estimate the following time schedule for Curacao (12N69W):
| Curacao 2006 Projected Coral Spawning Schedule* | |||||||||
| No. of Days After the Full Moon--7 September, 2006 & 6 October, 2006 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| First Spawn - Sept. 10-16 (S) | 10 Sept | 11 Sept | 12 Sept | 13 Sept | 14 Sept | 15 Sept | 16 Sept | ||
| Second Spawn - Oct. 9-15 (O) | 9 Oct | 10 Oct | 11 Oct | 12 Oct | 13Oct | 14 Oct | 15 Oct | ||
| HARD CORALS | |||||||||
| Elkhorn Coral Acropora palmata | S | ? | 21:15-21:45 | 21:15-21:45 | ? | ||||
| Staghorn Coral Acropora cervicornis | S | ? | 21:00-22:00 | 21:00-22:00 | ? | ||||
| Grooved Brain Coral Diploria labyrinthiformis | S | ? | 22:00-23:30 | 22:00-23:30 | 22:00-23:30 | ||||
| Symmetrical Brain Coral Diploria strigosa | S | 22:00-23:00 | 22:00-23:00 | ||||||
| Great Star Coral Monstrastraea cavernosa | SO | ? | 21:30-23:30 | 21:30-23:30 | ? | ||||
| Boulder/Mountainous Star Coral Monstrastraea annularis s.l. | SO | 21:30-23:30 | 21:30-23:30 | 21:30-23:30 | ? | ||||
| Blushing Star Coral Stephanocoenia mechelinii | S | 21:00-22:00 | 21:00-22:00 | 21:00-22:00 | |||||
| Ten-ray & Six-ray Star Coral Madracis decactis & M. senaria | SO | 0:00-06:00 | 0:00-06:00 | ||||||
| Smooth Flower Coral Eusmilia fastigiata | SO | 21:15-22:30 | 21:15-22:30 | 21:15-22:30 | 21:15-22:30 | ||||
| Lettuce & Lowrelief lettuce Coral Agaricia agaricites & A. humilis | SO | all night & day | all night & day | all night & day | all night & day | all night & day | all night & day | all night & day | |
| **Finger Coral Porites porites | S | 22:15-22:30 | |||||||
| SOFT CORALS | |||||||||
| Sea rods Plexauridae | SO | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | |
| ECHINODERMS | |||||||||
| Reef Urchin Echinometra viridis | SO | 12:00-18:00 | 12:00-18:00 | 12:00-18:00 | 12:00-18:00 | 12:00-18:00 | 12:00-18:00 | 12:00-18:00 | |
| Sea Cucumber Holothuroidea | SO | 12:00-18:00 | 12:00-18:00 | 12:00-18:00 | 12:00-18:00 | 12:00-18:00 | 12:00-18:00 | 12:00-18:00 | |
| Brittle Stars Ophiuridea | SO | 19:30-22:00 | 19:30-22:00 | 19:30-22:00 | 19:30-22:00 | 19:30-22:00 | 19:30-22:00 | 19:30-22:00 | |
| WORMS Polychaetes | |||||||||
| Christmas Tree Worm | SO | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | |
| Bearded Fireworm | SO | 12:00-19:00 | 12:00-19:00 | 12:00-19:00 | 12:00-19:00 | 12:00-19:00 | 12:00-19:00 | 12:00-19:00 | |
| SPONGES | |||||||||
| Touch-Me-Not Sponge | SO | 12:00-17:00 | 12:00-17:00 | 12:00-17:00 | ? | ||||
| * This schedule is provided as a courtesy only--there are no guarantees! ** Based on 1 reported observation September 2002 | |||||||||
| Ruby, spiny, & blunt-spined brittle stars were observed mass spawning 3 days after the full moon in August, 2005 | |||||||||
Remarks:
First of all has to be noticed that “Coral Spawing” is a natural phenomenon and despite many years gained acquaintances there is always a chance that this phenomenon does not occur on the same place or time as divers are under water. However, it is not likely that a diver sees nothing but the spawning fierceness can vary enormously
Therefore it is important to pay attention permanently and to warn possible other divers very carefully when spawning occurs. See that you never touch the corals during euphoric movements that surely are being made while watching this wonder of nature. Remain relaxed, do not approach too close and keep an eye on surrounding presence of sperm and egg packages. Small amounts in the head of water mostly indicate that the real spawning will keep you waiting only a short time. During these nights it has no sense to go deeper than 25m. Most corals on this depth and deeper are larviparous throughout the year and they do not take part in spawning. Besides it restricts your underwater stay. Especially in the length of your dive the success of a good spawning evening is to be found. During the spawning predators will appear and they will hungrily swallow the wealth of food. Predators mostly are small sized fishes, octopus and jellyfish. Please, visit the CDOA websitefor checking the correct dive operators and their night dive activities, special offers and equipment.
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