There were much larger fans in shallower water at this site, but they were destroyed in the storm surge of Cyclone Heta which struck in 2004, along with great swathes of the coral reef platform. As the climate changes, scientists fear that these destructive events will occur more frequently.

Climate change will affect South Pacific islands sooner and more significantly than elsewhere. Warmer seas drive more energy into the atmosphere, resulting in more frequent and more violent cyclones that destroy habitats and livelihoods.