Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Coral Reefs of the Red Sea
The Coral Reef is one of the richest ecosystems on
earth. Visitors to the Red Sea cannot but marvel at
the contrast between the barren, almost lifeless desert
and the explosion of marine life on the coastal reefs.
The waters are so clear that even from the surface you
can appreciate the huge diversity of species inhabiting
the reefs. Scuba divers can use the facilities of the many
diving centres along the coast
(see pp292-5
t . Remember
that a reef is an extremely fragile and threatened
environment and divers should look but not touch.
View of lagoon and the shallow
waters covering the reef-top
The edge of the reef
is the best
place for snorkellers to appreciate
its wealth of marine life
The lagoo
teems wit
small colo
including
species fo
the reef b
The clow
sea anem
layer of
from pre
CORA
Corals
condit
many
to the
to fee
built o
The sea fan
is a
horny coral, whose
polyps emerge at
nights to feed.
Jacks
are usually seen
in large schools in
open water, but large
solitary individuals will
visit the reef.
Gorgonians filtering the
water for plankton
An
Acropora
growing
in still, shallow water
Feathery red plume of
Klunzinger's soft coral
