Corals

The architects of the underwater world — hard corals build the reef, soft corals sway in the current. Take your time and look closely: the polyps feeding at night or in current are one of diving's quiet spectacles.

Last updated April 2026

Species

Soft coral

(12 photos)

Up to 60 cm5–40mRocky reefCoral reef

Branching or tree-like colonies of soft, flexible polyps that sway in the current. Comes in many colors — white, pink, yellow, red — without a hard skeleton.

Found on walls and overhangs in current-swept areas, polyps extend to feed — look closely to find tiny shrimp and nudibranchs living among the branches.

Observed at

Rosalie Moller(Hurghada)Jackson reef(Sharm El Sheikh)Small Crack(Sharm El Sheikh)

Orange coral

Astroides calycularis(8 photos)

EndangeredUp to 5 cm3–30mRocky reefCave

Vivid orange cup-shaped polyps that encrust shaded rock surfaces in bright patches. One of the Med's most striking corals — impossible to miss on cave walls.

Found in caves, overhangs, and shaded walls where it forms dense orange carpets — a Mediterranean-endemic species, indicator of good water quality.

Observed at

Bajo de Dentro(Cabo de Palos)La Calita(La Herradura)Marina del Este(La Herradura)

Dendrophyllia

Dendrophyllia ramea(5 photos)

EndangeredUp to 50 cm20–60mRocky reefCave

A branching tree coral with golden-yellow to orange polyps on thick, woody branches. Found in deeper, dimly lit waters of the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic.

Grows in deeper waters on rocky walls and overhangs — a slow-growing species increasingly rare due to trawling damage.

Observed at

Punta de la Mona(La Herradura)

Log your dives

Track every dive with depth, duration, conditions, and marine life sightings. Join a club and share your underwater experiences.

Try DiveLog — it's free