Broken, split shelf "Hoodoo" areas of Unity Hall. These areas are quite spectacular for their unique formations, as well as for the creatures that live here. You will find a number of sclerosponges on the walls, and many fish hiding in the crevices.

Montego Bay was a stunning site underwater in the 1960s and '70s. Fish were plentiful and the corals covered large areas, as seen in this photograph taken by Dr. Phillip Dustan in 1972. In this area at Unity Hall in the western end of the park, areas of 80 and 95% living coral cover were not uncommon. The Montego Bay area was estimated to hold an average coral cover in excess of 55%.

The influence of Hurricane Allen in 1980 smashed much, if not all of the branching corals of the Jamaican north coast, including Montego Bay. The rebound of the corals to Allen's damage was slower than expected for many reasons. In the 1970's, a three-fold increase in Montego Bay's population increased nutrient and sediment inputs, as well as fishing demands. This along with changing currents and water qualities, stressed the reef by the late 70's, reducing its ability to recover from Hurricane Allen in 1980.

Through 1983 and 1984, an unknown disease ravaged the long Spine Sea Urchin, Diadema antillarum, reducing the populations by more then 90%. Without adequate fish, these urchins had been the major grazing force of algae. Algae compete with living corals for light and space on the reef. WIthout the urchins, the corals began to loose this competition, and began to disappear.

Since 1999 the park, along with the rest of the Caribbean, has seen a marked (albeit patchy) return of these urchins, which we are watching and documenting with great interest. We are seeing increased coral recruitment (baby corals) and increased vigour in adults in areas where these urchins are occurring, and we are doing everything we can to keep these urchins and corals healthy and happy.