The annual event, one of nature's most spectacular and rare performances, occurs off the beaches of Anse Chastanet.

Each year, Anse Chastanet's scuba diving team, Scuba St Lucia, predicts the night spawning and prepares to take novice and experienced divers and snorkelers to observe the remarkable fertilisation process which turns the seas yellow and pink with upwards moving 'snowfall'. 

What is coral spawning and why is this so rare?

Each year, coral release millions of packets of egg and sperm cells that appear as massive underwater clouds of white and pink upward moving 'snowfall'. After they drift to the surface for fertilisation, the sea will be partially covered by the slicks of coral larvae before they settle to the bottom destined to build the next generation of these vital ocean organisms.

While much of the coral spawning process remains a mystery, scientists from all over the world study these miraculous events, and now know that the ideal time for the release of the reproductive cells is a week or so after a full August moon. It happens an hour or two after sunset with the cover of darkness increasing the chances of larvae survival by overwhelming fish predators.

How is Anse Chastanet conserving and preserving this rare phenomenon?

This spawning phase of reproduction is now known to be a weak link to worldwide coral reef survival as it can only happen when conditions are just right; it is the phase most sensitive to human activity, non-point source pollution, and climate change.

As the world's coral reefs are being decimated by the effects of global warming, this unique reproductive process takes on even further significance. Thankfully, Anse Chastanet has made a conscious effort for nearly 20 years to protect the reef from harm due to it exemplary and progressive sustainable designs and architecture; by minimizing impervious surfaces, keeping shorelines green and stable, and completely preventing runoff from entering the water - Anse Chastanet successfully preserves this wonder for future generations. 

For more information, visit www.scubastlucia.com andwww.ansechastanet.com.