Hard Coral Mini-Guide

By Scuba Diver Life

It's always nice to know what you're seeing and this mini-guide aims to inform about a few of these amazing reef builders.

  • Staghorn Coral

    One of the faster growing corals in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Great Barrier Reef, and Malaysia, staghorn coral recovers easily from storms thanks to asexuual reproduction. If a piece falls off, it's able to reattach to the substrate and start a new colony.

  • Elkhorn Coral

    Considered one of the more important reef building corals, elkhorn is very fast growing.  Like the staghorn, it can reproduce asexually and is found in shallow waters primarily in the Caribbean and parts of the Gulf of Mexico.

  • Table Coral

    In the same genus as elkhorn and staghorn coral, the aptly named table coral grows wide, flat shelves in shallow waters. This one has a wider distribution in tropical pacific waters and serves as shelter to numerous fish.

  • Pillar Coral

    Found primarily in the Atlantic and Caribbean, pillar coral is one of the few hard corals whose polyps come out during the day. Slow growing but long lived, pillars have been seen ten feet high.

  • Fire Coral

    Despite its name, fire coral isn't actually coral. It's a hydrozoan like hydras and jellyfish. It's found across the world in warmer waters, especially those with strong currents. Like most jellyfish, this 'coral' will sting you if touched.

  • Brain Coral

    One of the easiest to identify, brain coral is found across the world in warm waters. It's very slow growing and extremely long lived - up to 900 years!  It can grow 6 ft high and is less vulnerable to storm damage than other corals.

  • Great Star Coral

    While found primarily in the Caribbean, this coral is the predominant one between the depths of 40 - 100 ft. It can grow 5 ft in diameter and is prone to fluorescent coloring.

  • Cauliflower Coral

    Encompassing many different species, the cauliflower coral is found primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.  It likes both deep and shallow waters and can tolerate calm and rough seas, though its habitat does affect the size and shape of the colony.

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