In over a month, from 11.11.15 to 12.20.15, these mound coral colonies have almost fully recovered from a global coral bleaching event in 2015. The water temperature has cooled from a high of 88.3 F at 15:42 on September 12, 2015, to a cool 76.2 F at 9:00 on December 20, 2015. Other mound coral colonies in the area are still 100% bleached, but the ones recovering are well on their way. I observed some of the cauliflower colonies that were hardest hit, with 98-99% bleached, almost completely recovered. They have their bright colors back. I do not have a good sense of their recovery in this area. I will survey an area I photographed earlier for comparison.
