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Typhoon topples giant coral at world famous diving site
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DIVERS say a towering coral known as the “Big Mushroom” at the heart of a world-famous dive site in Taiwan was toppled when Typhoon Meranti struck last week.
The super typhoon was the strongest storm for 21 years to strike Taiwan, leaving one person dead before killing another 28 as it moved to China’s mainland.
Green Island off Taiwan’s east coast — which attracts divers from around the world — has been left reeling from the underwater damage caused by the storm and the smaller Typhoon Malakas which followed.
It was home to the 10-meter-high mushroom-shaped pore coral, the biggest of its kind.
But videos posted by local dive instructor Yu Ming-hung show the coral lying on its side on the seabed.
He called it a “loss and heartache for people in Taiwan.”
Green Island and nearby Orchid Island remain largely cut off. Regular ferries have not yet resumed due to debris in the harbor.
The storm also swept away a lighthouse at a dock in the eastern county of Taitung, where ferries to the islands depart. Tourists were evacuated from the islands before Meranti hit.
Officials said they feared an increase in extreme weather could cause more damage to marine life and to tourism.
“We were shocked to hear the news. It is a great pity,” said Chuang Hui-fang, a department chief at the east coast scenic area administration, of the toppling of the “Big Mushroom.” “The magnitude of typhoons is getting bigger than before. It seems these unusual weather phenomenon are becoming increasingly common.”
The “Big Mushroom” is at least 1,000 years old, Yu said.
The Professional Association of Diving Instructors consider it one of the top 20 iconic dive sites in Asia.
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