Branching Corals Quick Guide We get it, you’re busy and don’t have time to sit around sifting through books or perusing our Guide to Caribbean Corals. So we made this quick guide to branching corals so you can easily identify Caribbean species at…
Coral Identification
25 Colorful Cactus Corals You Can Only Find In The Caribbean
Cactus Corals Cactus corals are some of the most colorful Caribbean species, yet most scuba divers and snorkelers don’t even know to be on the lookout for this magical multicolor coral. Cactus corals grow into thick encrusting plates or large domes and…
Caribbean Coral Diaries: Stephanocoenia intersepta
Stephanocoenia intersepta If you are learning to identify Stephanocoenia intersepta chances are you’ve mastered all the basics of coral ID. Stephanocoenia is an uncommon coral which can be easily overlooked or mistaken for other boulder or star corals. Colonies are encrusting forming domes…
Caribbean Coral Diaries: Agaricia agaricites
Agaricia agaricites Agaricia, Undaria, Agaricia, Undaria, science just can’t seem to decide where to classify this coral. As of today, it’s Agaricia, but honestly to spot this coral either name will do. Agaricia agaricities, is a common Caribbean species that grows…
Caribbean Coral Diaries: Mycetophyllia lamarckiana
Mycetophyllia lamarckiana If you’ve been following my Caribbean coral series you might be asking why I waited until the end to cover this beloved coral. Mycetophyllia lamarckiana is one the most recognizable corals in the Caribbean, however teasing apart this confusing…
Caribbean Coral Diaries: Angaricia humilis
Undaria Agaricia humilis Undaria Agaricia corals are common throughout the Caribbean which forms plate-likeate like structures. This coral has small polyps which are most often retracted into the coral, and corallites and ridges run parallel to the edge of the colony. The genus…
Caribbean Coral Diares: Madracis carmabi
Madracis carmabi Madracis carmabi is a master of disguise. At first glance, you could be fooled into thinking this bulbous yellow coral is M. decactis or even the branching M. formosa, but take a closer look at the septal arrangement, and you might be surprised. Madracis carmabi is most likely a hybrid taking the ten septa arrangement…
Caribbean Coral Diaries – Fire Coral
Fire coral (Millepora sp.) is the VERY FIRST coral every scuba diver should learn to identify. These fuzzy orange corals hide a fierce sting and should be avoided at all cost. Colonies have a smooth surface with a pale yellow to…
How To Identify 20 Stony Corals From Indonesia
Often scuba divers focus on tiny critters, schools of fish, or jumbo-sized creatures like whales, dolphins, and sharks. This leaves corals to get lumped together under a single term ‘coral reef’ which is far too general to describe the hundreds of individual…
Learn Coral Identification Basics On Scuba Diver Life
Want to learn the basics of Coral Identification? Check out my author page on the website Scuba Diver Life! For the past few months, I’ve been contributing articles around the web for anyone interested in coral identification. On this website, ReefDivers,…