Marine Life . 6 species

CoralsThe living architecture of the Red Sea.

Coral is the foundation of every dive. The Red Sea has some of the most resilient and biodiverse coral systems on the planet, with 200+ species.

6Species in this group

BestYear-round

Where9 dive sites

About corals

Coral is an animal that builds a stone home. The Red Sea hosts both hard reef-building corals and the dramatic soft corals that drape offshore walls.

The species

Every coral you can meet in Marsa Alam.

Very common

Dendronephthya Soft Coral

Dendronephthya spp.

The Red Sea's signature soft coral - tree-like clusters in vivid pinks, reds, oranges.

Did you know? Soft corals lack a hard skeleton - the colour comes from internal spicules.

Size: 1 m colonies
Diet: Plankton (filter feeder)
Season: Year-round

Best places to see one

Elphinstone Reef Habili Ali (St. John's)Gota Sagar (St. John's)

Very common

Staghorn Coral

Acropora cervicornis

Fast-growing branching coral that forms dense thickets on shallow reef tops.

Did you know? Can grow up to 20 cm per year - one of the fastest-growing corals on Earth.

Size: 3 m colonies
Diet: Photosynthesis + plankton
Season: Year-round

Best places to see one

Sha'ab Marsa Alam Um Halhala Sataya Reef

Very common

Brain Coral

Diploria spp.

Massive boulder-shaped colonies with grooved surfaces resembling a human brain.

Did you know? A single brain coral colony can live for over 900 years.

Size: 2 m diameter
Diet: Photosynthesis + plankton
Season: Year-round

Best places to see one

Sha'ab Marsa Alam Um Halhala

Common

Table Coral

Acropora hyacinthus

Spectacular flat plate corals up to 3 metres across. Shelters hundreds of small fish.

Did you know? Their flat shape maximises sunlight capture in clear shallow water.

Size: 3 m diameter
Diet: Photosynthesis + plankton
Season: Year-round

Best places to see one

Sha'ab Claudio Sataya Reef

Common

Gorgonian Sea Fan

Subergorgia spp.

Large fan-shaped soft corals that grow perpendicular to current to maximise plankton capture.

Did you know? Sea fans align like solar panels - except they collect plankton.

Size: 2 m fans
Diet: Plankton
Season: Year-round

Best places to see one

Elphinstone Reef Habili Ali (St. John's)

Common

Fire Coral

Millepora spp.

Not a true coral - actually a hydroid. Don't touch.

Did you know? Despite the look, fire coral is more closely related to jellyfish than to true corals.

Size: 50 cm
Diet: Photosynthesis + plankton
Season: Year-round

Best places to see one

Marsa Shouna Abu Dabbab Bay

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