Tag: Hard Coral

Split shot: above water the golden-lit rocky cliffs of the desert coastline, below water a colourful coral reef.
A green sea turtle swims over a colourful coral reef; a school of orange anthias is visible in the background.
A large yellow lettuce coral (Turbinaria reniformis) on the reef in the Red Sea. The leaf-shaped coral forms an impressive structure.
A species-rich coral reef in the shallow water of the Red Sea. Various hard and soft corals in vivid colours cover the reef slope, including Acropora table corals and Porites corals.
A large table coral dominates the reef scene, surrounded by colourful soft corals in red, pink and yellow. The coral is photographed from below looking towards the water surface, where sunbeams shine through the blue water.
A vivid red soft coral dominates the right side of a colourful reef scene, while small anthias hover in the blue water above. The reef displays a diverse growth structure with hard corals, sponges and various invertebrates in warm tones.
A large coral formation dominates the reef image, probably a table coral with characteristic yellow-brown leaf-shaped structures. The coral displays a complex layered growth form with wavy edges and is encrusted with violet crust or soft corals.
A vibrant reef scene with two vivid yellow masked butterflyfish and a reddish fish swimming among colourful hard corals. The scene is dramatically lit by sun rays breaking through the blue water from above.
An orange crab with characteristic red eyes sits among the polyps of a stony coral. The small crustacean uses the coral reef as shelter and habitat.
A majestic red lionfish hovers over a colourful coral reef with its characteristic fan-like pectoral fins spread wide. The scene shows a typical reef atmosphere with hard and soft corals in various colours, while orange anthias swim in the background.
A vivid red soft coral extends its polyps against the deep blue water, surrounded by yellowish hard corals. The high-contrast scene captures the colourful diversity of a tropical coral reef.
A magnificent coral reef scene with vivid pink soft corals in the foreground with fully extended polyps. The reef shows an impressive diversity with hard and soft corals in various colours from pink through yellow to orange, against the characteristic deep blue background of the open water.
A vibrant coral reef scene with colourful soft corals in pink and red tones alongside hard corals. A male anthias swims through the frame while further small fish are visible in the deep blue water in the background.
Two divers hover above a colourfully encrusted coral reef with a large red gorgonian as the main subject. The scene shows the impressive biodiversity of a tropical reef with various hard and soft corals in vivid colours.
A majestic red lionfish hovers elegantly above a colourful coral reef while the sun shines through the clear blue water from above. The characteristic striped pectoral fins of the lionfish are spread wide as it patrols among the hard and soft corals.
A beautiful long-nosed hawkfish with its characteristic red-and-white checkered pattern and elongated first dorsal fin spines rests on a colourful reef structure. The fish displays its typical elongated snout and striking lattice pattern, positioned among corals and sponges.
A vivid red reef bigeye swims among various stony corals in a colourful coral reef. Divers are visible in the background in the blue water, while the reef shows a diverse mix of hard and soft corals.
A vibrant coral reef with a spectacular school of orange anthias hovering in large numbers above hard and soft corals. The vivid orange-red fish form a dense cloud above the colourful reef landscape of various coral species, while the deep blue water is visible in the background.
A vibrant coral reef scene with a colourful school of orange anthias hovering above the colourful hard and soft corals. The deep blue water and sun rays from above create a dramatic atmosphere in this healthy reef system.
A magnificent coral reef with hundreds of orange-red anthias hovering in a dense school above the hard corals. The vivid orange fish form a spectacular contrast against the deep blue water and colourful coral formations.
A magnificent coral landscape with vivid pink-orange soft corals swaying elegantly in the blue water, combined with various hard corals and small tropical fish. The scene displays the typical colour splendour and diversity of a healthy coral reef with the characteristic contrast between the warm coral colours and the deep blue background.
A diver hovers above a magnificent coral reef with large gorgonians and branching hard corals. The scene shows the impressive diversity of tropical reef structures in deep blue water with sunlight from above.
A vivid orange-yellow Red Sea anemonefish with characteristic white stripes lives in symbiosis with its host anemone on the coral reef. A perfect example of one of the ocean's most famous partnerships, with the clownfish finding shelter among the anemone's tentacles.
A vivid yellow pygmy angelfish swims over a colourful coral with pink-red polyps. The small reef dweller displays its characteristic oval body shape and typical colouring with a yellow head and violet accents on the fins.
A red-orange scorpionfish sits perfectly camouflaged among white corals on the reef. Its spiny fins and warty skin blend masterfully with the reef structure, while the deep blue water in the background forms a beautiful contrast.
A vivid yellow-orange anemonefish lives in symbiosis with its host anemone in a colourful coral reef. The scene shows the classic symbiosis between clownfish and anemone, surrounded by various hard and soft corals under brilliant blue water.
A vibrant reef scene with a magnificent red gorgonian fan coral as the main subject, surrounded by various hard and soft corals. A vivid red sponge is prominently visible in the foreground, while the deep blue water in the background highlights the colour contrasts of the coral formation.
A diver hovers in deep blue water beneath a colourful reef ceiling with vivid pink soft corals and various hard corals. The scene shows the impressive biodiversity of a tropical coral reef with various coral species and small reef fish.
A dragonhead scorpionfish rests on a colourful coral branch reaching into the blue water, waiting for passing prey. The camouflage of this scorpionfish species is masterly. A diver explores the scene in the distance. The sun shines through the water surface, bathing the reef in atmospheric light.
A diverse coral reef scene with various hard and soft corals in different colours from brown through violet to whitish tones. The branching stony corals and soft coral polyps form a dense, healthy reef structure in clear blue water with sunlight from the surface.
A perfectly camouflaged large frogfish sits on a coral block, waiting for passing prey.
A colourful coral reef with two vivid yellow masked butterflyfish swimming among colourful soft corals. The scene shows a typical reef community with red, pink and yellow soft corals as well as hard corals against deep blue water.
A vibrant reef scene shows clownfish in their host anemone growing among colourful hard corals and sponges. The orange-and-white anemonefish live in perfect symbiosis with the large sea anemone, while the crystal-clear blue water and further reef inhabitants are visible in the background.
A vivid orange-yellow Red Sea anemonefish swims among the tentacles of its host anemone in a colourful coral reef. The scene shows the classic symbiosis between anemonefish and anemone, surrounded by various hard and soft corals in crystal-clear blue water.
Two Red Sea anemonefish live in perfect symbiosis with their host anemone on a colourful coral reef. The vivid orange-red clownfish with their characteristic white stripes have made their home among the protective tentacles of the anemone.
A dense school of silvery-blue fish swims over a colourful coral landscape while the sun shines through the crystal-clear water. The scene captures the vibrant activity of the reef with various hard and soft corals in the foreground.
A vibrant coral reef scene with various hard and soft corals, including branching stony corals and orange-red sponges. Among the corals swim small orange-yellow reef fish typical of tropical coral reefs.
Two surgeonfish swim over a colourful coral reef. The fish display their characteristic blue base colouring with fine dot and stripe patterns, while the reef is encrusted with orange and violet soft corals and hard corals.
A vibrant coral reef with colourful hard and soft corals in the foreground, above which a dense school of orange anthias and pink basslets swarms. The scene shows the typical dynamics of a healthy tropical reef with its characteristic fish community.
A majestic reef manta glides elegantly over a vibrant coral landscape while small reef fish swim around it. The characteristic white underside with dark spot patterns is clearly recognisable, and further mantas are visible in the blue water behind.
A majestic whale shark glides elegantly over the coral reef, its characteristic white spots clearly visible against the dark skin. Soft sunlight penetrates the crystal-clear deep blue water, creating a peaceful underwater atmosphere.
A beautiful Acropora hard coral with violet-pink spherical polyp tips presenting itself against turquoise-blue water. The coral displays its characteristic cylindrical branches with clearly visible extended polyps in their full splendour.
A diver swims above a huge coral formation of plate corals, whose undulating, layered structures form an impressive underwater landscape. The brownish-yellow coral plates extend like a natural staircase across the entire seabed.
An expansive coral formation of large plate corals dominates the reef image. The flat corals form characteristic undulating structures and display the typical yellowish-green colouring of healthy stony corals in shallower water.