Marine Life
Reading the reef: a beginner’s guide to Red Sea coral
Hard coral, soft coral, fire coral — what you’re actually looking at down there, and the etiquette that keeps it alive.
Hard and soft coral
Hard corals build the reef’s structure — brain, table and staghorn shapes. Soft corals sway with the current and bring the pinks and purples.
Watch out for fire coral
Yellow-brown and branching, fire coral stings on contact. Another good reason to never touch the reef.
Reef etiquette
Don’t stand on coral, keep fins off the bottom, and use reef-safe sunscreen. Healthy reefs are why the Red Sea is still one of the world’s best.