Hard Corals and Soft Corals: A Vibrant Palette
The Red Sea is renowned for its spectacular coral reefs, home to exceptional marine life. Among the most fascinating are hard and soft corals, two types that coexist and form some of the most colorful underwater landscapes in the world.
Hard corals, with their rigid, geometric structures, create massive, robust formations that serve as a refuge and hunting ground for a multitude of marine species. Soft corals, on the other hand, sway and float delicately with the currents, creating a magical spectacle. These soft corals, often brightly colored, provide a striking contrast to the hard corals.
Both types of coral are essential to the balance of the marine ecosystem. Hard corals serve as the foundation for the reef, while the more fragile soft corals provide diversity and color. When diving, we often find ourselves surrounded by these living formations, forming underwater gardens teeming with clownfish, surgeonfish and parrotfish.