Down-under encounter
Spawning on Reef gets near
There is no sexier time of the year on the Great Barrier Reef than between October and November. The annual coral spawning is a sight to behold, best described as a tropical snowstorm underwater when loved-up corals release trillions of eggs and sperm into the water. Marine biologist Russell Hore said Cairns was the best place to see coral spawning. “November diving offers great weather — warm waters and low wind,” he said.
THERE is no sexier time of the year on the Great Barrier Reef than between October and November.
The annual coral spawning is a sight to behold, best described as a tropical snowstorm underwater when lovedup corals release trillions of eggs and sperm into the water.
The once-a-year mass reproduction is usually triggered in October-November after a full moon.
It takes very specific conditions for corals to release their reproductive material: about 4-6 days after a full moon, balmy water temperature and low winds.
Quicksilver Cruises marine biologist Russell Hore says he has only witnessed the biological phenomenon a handful of times in all of his 30 years of diving the Great Barrier Reef.
“From a biological point of view, coral spawning is a necessary process and it is wonderful to see,” he said.
“It’s the Everest of seeing reproduction in nature. But you need to be in the right spot at the right time.”
Coral spawning takes places over several days, and to complicate matters, different spe- cies spawn on different nights. “In the lead-up to the spawning day, the Reef becomes fecund,” Mr Hore said.
“It’s almost as if you’re watching pregnancy on a minute scale, without the cravings for ice cream.
“If you get up close, you will see little orange balls of eggs pushing to the mouth of the coral.
“These are little signs that ejaculation on a mass scale is about to take place.”
If summer conditions prevail, Mr Hore predicts this year’s spawning season will take place from November 8 to 10 or December 7 to 9 if conditions cool.
He said Cairns was the best place to see coral spawning.
“We have high speed boats to get you out to the Great Barrier Reef and highly qualified divers, many with marine biology backgrounds, to guide you,” he said.
“November diving offers great weather – perfect warm waters and low wind.”