AN ARMY OF BUILDERS: THE CORALS
Over 250 species of coral exist in the Red Sea, 8% of which are endemic. The organism is made up of “heads” of polyps. Half animal and half vegetable, the corals have invaded the reefs like an army of builders. When a colony dies, another starts building on its calcareous skeleton… But this activity can be misleading as, depending on the species, it only grows at a rate of a few millimetres or centimetres per year – so it takes thousands of years for the coral to carpet the seafloor and model out the relief.
A GIANT AQUARIUM:
With 1248 species, of which 17% are endemic, the Red Sea is like a magnificent aquarium, and its reefs are a haven for many species of fish. Some use them to hide from predators, others lay their eggs there, and for most the reefs are their feeding grounds.
FATAL ATTRACTION:
There is a seemingly infinite aquatic palette of shapes, colours, spots, and stripes. But great care must be taken – it is forbidden to touch these creatures, and some of them can be dangerous. So, keep your hands out of harm’s way and concentrate on controlling your buoyancy instead!
UNDERSEA LIFE AROUND THE WRECKS:
The wrecks provide the ideal environment for a whole range of different organisms: alcyonarians, fan corals, and stony corals can transform the rustiest of hulls into a wonderful garden that is home to shellfish, mollusks, parrotfish, and also morays, lionfish, and crocodile fish. But, the star of the wrecks is undoubtedly the grouper, the ever-present guardian of sunken ships.
