The sea urchin Diadema antillarum commonly occurs on Caribbean reefs in densities sufficiently high to influence characteristics such as community composition and reef growth. We observed an outbreak of mass mortality in this species reducing population densities by 98 to 100 %. Mortality spread from the Curaqao harbour mouth along the coast, most rapidly advancing in the down-current direction. Our calculations show a pronounced effect on the carbonate budget of the reef. Recovery of Diadema populations may be facilitated by parthenogenesis. There is continuing recruitment on affected reefs, a possible location of the parent population being up-current unaffected reefs of Bonaire.