Preliminary Survey of Coral Reefs at Vakare with special emphasis on Kayankerni Reef

Kayankerni reef
The area was a long favorite <strong>of</strong> the ornamental fish collectors and the divers used to visit this reef to do
Sand Island reef
their collections even during the days when the area was under the influence <strong>of</strong> the LTTE. The team
carried out 2 dives <strong>at</strong> the site on the 28th and 29th. The dives included snorkel swims, SCUBA and diver
tows to sample over 850m. <strong>of</strong> reef areas.
The reef is an extensive complex <strong>of</strong> reefs and shoals th<strong>at</strong> span the Thennadi bay and extend down along
the Northern reaches <strong>of</strong> the Vanderloos Bay ( 8° 0'1.86"N, 81°30'44.25"E / 7°59'48.29"N,
81°32'46.27"E / 7°58'50.53"N, 81°33'33.75"E) The reef is composed <strong>of</strong> a series <strong>of</strong> structures comprising
shoals <strong>with</strong>in the Thennadi bay. There is a small p<strong>at</strong>h reef close to the shore on the Western end <strong>of</strong> the
Thennadi Bay around "Velikuda Periyamunei Point" (this area was not surveyed presently) an extensive
p<strong>at</strong>ch reef is found about 1.4Km. North <strong>of</strong> this site the site is composed <strong>of</strong> varied habit<strong>at</strong>s from very
shallow Staghorn beds to deep coral domes and steep reef slopes dropping down to over 10m. in depth.
The area is exposed to heavy surf and is said to have had an exposed sand island previously which has
subsided and is now over grown <strong>with</strong> coral.
A large expanse <strong>of</strong> coral p<strong>at</strong>ches spread across most <strong>of</strong> the Eastern half <strong>of</strong> the Thennadi bay ranging
from 250-500m. <strong>of</strong>f shore and stretching up to the large rocky outcrops loc<strong>at</strong>ed about 300m. <strong>of</strong>fshore
on the North Western edge <strong>of</strong> the reef. The reef then spreads around the headland in a continuous reef
about 250-300m. <strong>of</strong>f shore <strong>with</strong> an enclosed reef lagoon. this reef extends beyond the elephant point to
reach lower along the opposite side <strong>of</strong> the headland in to the Vanderloos Bay . fanning out in to a wide
arc about 400m to 800m. from the shore separ<strong>at</strong>ed by a wide reef lagoon.