The coral reefs are some of the most delicate and fragile ecosystems of the world. They are incredible havens for all sorts of amazing wildlife and we really should look after them better. I'm sharing some wonderful pictures of the coral reefs, keeping my fingers crossed that they're still be there for future generations and pictures won't just be memories.
Snapshot Survey
Snapshot Survey
1. Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica
A tranquil ocean scene where you'll never imagine a coral reef teeming with life lies just below the surface.
2. Namena Marine Reserve, Fiji
Via Namena Soft Corals 1
There are hard corals and soft corals. These are soft.
3. Feather Starfish
Via Natures Doorways
Coral reefs are home to the most colorful marine creatures found anywhere.
Among the vibrantly hued inhabitants, the Feather Starfish stands out with its spectacular array of feathery arms, often resembling a flamboyant flower tucked away in the underwater gardens. This extraordinary echinoderm can actually swim through the water with a grace that belies its bizarre appearance. The Feather Starfish adds to the reef’s charisma, enchanting divers and marine biologists alike with its ethereal beauty and the rich tapestry of life it contributes to. Not merely stationary decor, these creatures play a crucial role in the ecosystem, filtering nutrients and serving as indicators of the reef’s health.
4. The Great Barrier Reef
Via Seven wonders of the natural ...
Australia's Great Barrier Reef is the longest coral reef in the world.
5. Blue Ringed Octopus
Via What's up, BRO!
This poisonous creature roams the Australian reefs.
6. Colorful Tropical Fish
Via Underwater Tropical Fish iPhone 5s ...
There's no definitive answer to the question how many different forms of life the coral reefs support.
7. Red Sea
Via Underwater photography competition medal winners ...
The coral reefs in the Red Sea make it one of the premier diving spots outside of the tropics and the world's major reef systems.
8. Sea Horse
Via Морской конек
Among the amazing array of reef creatures, the sea horse is still one of the most wondrous in that it's the male that carries the babies and gives birth.
9. Harlequin Shrimp
Via Gorgeous animals of the coral ...
He looks too pretty to be caught and eaten on a seafood platter ^_^
10. Green Chromis
Via Castles Crowns and Cottages
This is a species of damselfish.
11. Fusilier Fish
Via CRW_5941m
This magnificent picture of a shoal of stunning blue fish was shot off Malaysia.
12. Sea Anemones
Via Closeups iPhone Wallpaper | iDesign ...
Sea anemones are predatory animals that anchor themselves to the reefs.
13. Zoanthus Corals
Via Dos Mares do Sul
Known as "carpet coral", they can spread to completely cover a rock with brightly colored circular patterns. They're popular with hobby fish keepers.
14. Stunning Colors
Via Wear Blue, Tell Two - ...
The real Nemo.
15. Triton
Via Triton's trumpet, redux
Predatory sea snails range in size from very small to huge.
Predatory sea snails range in size from very small to huge. Triton's trumpet, aptly named for its long, spiraled shell, is a significant predator in coral reefs. These snails have an essential role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. They primarily feed on crown-of-thorns starfish, which can otherwise devastate coral populations. The intricate and vibrant shells are often sought after by collectors, but their ecological significance demands attention and preservation. By controlling starfish populations, Triton's trumpet contributes to the health and resilience of coral reefs, making these mollusks invaluable guardians of their underwater world.
16. Maori Wrasse
Via No Cookies | dailytelegraph.com.au
AKA the Napoleon Fish, it can change from female to male, and there is only one male per territory. If he disappears, the largest female will change sex to male. .
17. Hayman Island, Queensland
Via orangefish
Incredible colors abound.
18. Maui, Hawaii
Via Cleaning Station II by Dave ...
Several green sea turtles gather at a cleaning station on the reef.
19. Emperor Angle Fish
Via angelfish
Reef fish are so much more colorful and heavily patterned than deep sea and cold ocean fish.
20. Bright Red Gorgonian Soft Coral Flares
Via Bright Red Gorgonian Soft Coral ...
One of the most brightly colored corals.
21. Coral Reef Fish
Via Fish
The colors are kaleidoscopic.
22. Belize Barrier Reef
Via Belize Holidays and Belize Luxury ...
The Belize reef is home to more than 100 different kinds of coral and some 500 species of fish.
23. Lacy Coral
Via Sea fans
It looks like a skeleton leaf.
24. Roatán Coral Reef
Via Roatan Coral reef scene
The Roatán reef (Honduras) is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef in the Caribbean Sea - off the coast of Central America.
25. Blue Button Jelly Fish
Via coralreefphotos.com
It's not actually a jellyfish but a polyp.
26. Yellow Cabbage Coral
Via Underwater Photographer Noam Kortler's Gallery
Corals really are such fantastical shapes.
27. Lionfish
Via The Amazing Maldive Islands (10 ...
The lionfish is a venomous fish and a major predator on the coral reefs.
28. Starfish
Via worldadventures.com.au
I've always thought starfish were just a sandy brown color.
29. Maldives
Via 500px.com
The corals will waft with the movement of the waves like your hair blowing in the breeze.
Embrace the underwater symphony as schools of vibrant fish weave through the sunlit patches amidst the corals. The Maldives is not just a luxurious escape above water, but a mosaic of marine life beneath the surface. Feel the serenity of the islands extend beneath the waves where the coral gardens host a treasure trove of biodiversity. Enjoy the blissful seclusion as you explore the intricate coral structures; their colors and shapes as diverse as the islands themselves. Snorkel or dive to become one with this aquatic paradise, a truly mesmerizing wonder of the natural world.
30. Heart Reef
Via Vacations: All-Inclusive, Last-Minute Travel Deals ...
The Great Barrier Reef throws some amazing shapes.
31. Bubble Coral
Via LOL Laffs
It's obvious where that name comes from.
32. Great Barrier Reef
Via Great Barrier Reef, Australia
When you go scuba diving on the reefs you have to share your water space with loads of fish.
33. Corals
Via Podvodni mir i njegovi stanovnici ...
OMG look at that electric orange and acid green, not to mention the pink and turquoise.
These vibrant hues aren't just for show; they're a sign of the complex and vitally important ecosystems housed within these underwater marvels. From the tiny polyps that build the reefs to the diverse marine life they support, corals are bustling metropolises beneath the waves. Each color plays a role, whether it's attracting fish for symbiosis or reflecting sunlight to nourish the zooxanthellae algae living within the coral's tissues. Mind-blowing, isn't it? It's a kaleidoscope of life that's as important to the ocean as the rainforest is to the land.
34. White Corals
Via Onirisme
The white corals are just as stunning as the colored corals.
35. Lettuce Sea Slug
Via Underwater Photographer Stan Bysshe's Gallery: ...
It looks like a plant but it's actually a marine gastropod mollusk.
36. Red Sea
Via Egypt, Safaga, Red Sea, Image ...
Red fish in the Red Sea.
37. Purple Haze
Via Underwater by Dan Holm
It doesn't have to be multi-colored and garish to be beautiful.
38. Montipora Capricornis
Via I'd Like to Avoid a ...
A common coral in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
39. It's Yellow
Via All sizes | star scape ...
The muted palette is just wonderful.
40. It's a Rainbow
Via Sea Creatures – Amazing Pictures ...
But there's something extra special when you see all the colors of the rainbow.
Have you dived or snorkeled coral reefs? I've snorkeled a bit and up close, reefs are a truly amazing sight.
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