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Corals

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 5000

Corals are marine animals that build some of the most vibrant and biodiverse ecosystems on Earth—coral reefs. Found in warm, shallow waters, corals form massive limestone structures that support thousands of marine species, from fish and turtles to tiny invertebrates. While they may look like colorful rocks or plants, corals are living colonies of tiny polyps, feeding on plankton and thriving in sunlit seas

© iStock-stephankerkhofs

Snorkelers and divers can explore spectacular coral gardens in tropical regions worldwide, where hard and soft corals create a dazzling underwater landscape. Whether branching, boulder-like, or waving gently with the current, corals are not only beautiful but vital to ocean health—making every dive or snorkel through a reef a chance to witness nature’s underwater masterpiece.

Animals in this Category

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 1500

iStock-ifish
Hard Corals

Hard Corals
 
 

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3500

Unsplash-pascal van de vendel
Soft Corals

Soft Corals
 
 

Dive Sites with This Animal

PT. BAHARI INTAN ABADI, 80224 Denpasar Selatan
USAT Liberty Wreck <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.7)</span>

USAT Liberty Wreck (★4.7)

This is the only historical shipwreck in Bali, ranked #3 in the world for Wreck diving! The wreck is 25 meters form shore at a depth of 4 to 29 meters below the surface with most of it occuring in a shallow area. This dive site does not have strong currents, has clear water, and warm temperatures. Difficult entry!
Channel Islands Scuba, 91360 Thousand Oaks
Salt Pier (49) <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.6)</span>

Salt Pier (49) (★4.6)

Active pier for loading salt from the salt works on the island of Bonaire. It can only be dived when no ship is moored, and no maintenance is being performed.
Member Diving, Koh Samui, 84320 Koh Samui
Sail Rock, Thailand <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.4)</span>

Sail Rock, Thailand (★4.4)

Sail Rock is a pinnacle which rises to 15m above and 40m below the surface. Sail Rock lies between Koh Phangan and Koh tao. It’s famous for its natural underwater vertical swim through or chimney which divers can enter at 6 metres and exit at 18.
Maldives Passions, 08090 Maafushi
Kandooma Thila <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.5)</span>

Kandooma Thila (★4.5)

This “Thila” is in the middle of the kandooma kandu. From 2000 to 2009 this dive site was ranked world 10th place of shark diving. The top of the reef is full of hard corals. The sides of the “Thila” are covered with soft corals. The currents are strong here and highly recommend for Advanced and Nitrox divers.
Palm Beach Divers Co., Ltd, 81150 Krabi
Koh Bida Nok <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.7)</span>

Koh Bida Nok (★4.7)

This is one our favourite dive sites since it has the widest range of wildlife. The reef gently slopes down from the island apart from the wall at the south west which drops 22-26 meters.
iDIVE Komodo, 86554 Labuan Bajo
Mawan Komodo <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.7)</span>

Mawan Komodo (★4.7)

Mawan is a small island with white sand beaches and turquoise waters in central Komodo National Park. It holds many surprises for divers, offering huge inhabitants as well as a great macro marine life. Mawan is also a cleaning station for mantas. Divers and snorkelers alike can enjoy seeing them.
Member Diving, Koh Samui, 84320 Koh Samui
Chumphon Pinnacle <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.5)</span>

Chumphon Pinnacle (★4.5)

The main pinnacle of Chumphon Pinnacle comes as shallow as 14 meters and the deepest point of the site goes as deep as 45 meters. Offering great opportunities for divers at Open Water level through to XR level.
iStock-MaRabelo
Shark &amp; Yolanda Reef <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.6)</span>

Shark & Yolanda Reef (★4.6)

The most famous site in Ras Mohammed. There are many ways to dive the site so there is something for everyone here. Shark Reef, Yolanda Reef, and Satellite Reef make up the 3 pinnacles. On Yolanda Reef you can find toilets and a mast laying around from the sunken Yolanda wreck.
MANTA DIVE, Gili Trawangan
Shark Point, Gili Trawangan <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.6)</span>

Shark Point, Gili Trawangan (★4.6)

An excellent site for viewing larger marine life on the north side of Gili Trawangan. A flat sandy bottom turns into a series of progressively deeper canyons that run parallel to the shore. The Glen Nusa shipwreck is located at the northern part of the site in 28m of water.
Peter S. (#417559)
Monad Shoal <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.3)</span>

Monad Shoal (★4.3)

Monad Shoal is considered the best dive site in the world to see the rare and timid Thresher Sharks. These sharks normally live in the deep but regularly come here early in the morning for the cleaning station.
Peter S. (#417559)
Kimud Shoal <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.8)</span>

Kimud Shoal (★4.8)

After the tresher sharks disappeared from Monad Shoal for unknown reasons and moved to the Kimud Shoal, this is now one of the best dive sites in the world to see the rare and elusive tresher sharks. These sharks normally live in the deep but regularly come here for the cleaning stations at shallower depths.
PT. BAHARI INTAN ABADI, 80224 Denpasar Selatan
Crystal Bay, Nusa Penida <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.4)</span>

Crystal Bay, Nusa Penida (★4.4)

Located on the west-side of Nusa Penida Island, Crystal Bay has two coral reef formations separated by sand slopes. The combination of slopes and walls that form the topography at this dive site goes down to more than 50 meters and meets with large rock which is an ideal place for a cleaning station for sunfish.
Hobo-Ya Similan, 83120 Phuket
Richelieu Rock <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.7)</span>

Richelieu Rock (★4.7)

Richelieu Rock is one of the most popular dive sites in Surin Islands National Park. It is a limestone reef that rises almost vertically from a depth of 35 meters, and appears only at low tide, about 1 meter above the surface.
BIGBOSS DIVE CEBU, 6015 Lapu-Lapu City
Lighthouse <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.4)</span>

Lighthouse (★4.4)

The Lighthouse dive site in Cabilao Island, located west of Bohol, is a breathtaking diving destination known for its stunning coral formations, rich marine biodiversity, and excellent visibility. This site is ideal for intermediate to advanced divers who enjoy wall diving and drift diving.
Hobo-Ya Similan, 83120 Phuket
Koh Tachai Pinnacle/The Dome <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.4)</span>

Koh Tachai Pinnacle/The Dome (★4.4)

The Dome is a hidden reef point located about 500m south of Tachai Island. A large dome-shaped bedrock shaped like an upturned plate is dotted around a large granite boulder. The top of is at 12 meters and the current can be the strongest in the area depending on the conditions. As a result, there are many large predatory fish such as blue and white trevally, bluefin tuna, barracudas, manta rays, and whale bays.
HOBOYA KOH TAO ほうぼう屋タオ島, 84360 Koh Tao
Japanese Gardens Koh Tao <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.5)</span>

Japanese Gardens Koh Tao (★4.5)

Japanese Gardens is located on the east side of Koh Nanguan. Its protected and a very calm and easy site. The sandy area off. Its a very calm and easy site. The sandy area off the island gradually gets deeper and deeper, and you can wall dive along the island to the north. The depth ranges from just a couple meters to about 16 meters.
HOBOYA KOH TAO ほうぼう屋タオ島, 84360 Koh Tao
Twins Koh Tao <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.5)</span>

Twins Koh Tao (★4.5)

Dive into a world of wonder at Twins, aka Twin Peaks - the ultimate Koh Tao dive site! Explore 2 massive underwater rocks from 7 to 20 meters deep, perfect for divers of all levels. Ideal for stunning underwater photography, with consistently good visibility. Don’t miss out on this gem near Koh Nangyuan!
Stephan M. (#1651629)
Tobia Arbaa <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.5)</span>

Tobia Arbaa (★4.5)

Tobia Arbaa is a popular dive site near Safaga and can be reached by speedboat or daily boat tour. The dive site contains five main pinnacles on a shallow sandy bottom and is suitable for entry level and advanced divers alike.
MANTA DIVE, Gili Trawangan
Halik, Gili Trawangan <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.6)</span>

Halik, Gili Trawangan (★4.6)

A steep slope on the north side of Gili Trawangan, from 5m down to 24m with a series of gullies at the bottom. A series of gradually deeper ridges running parallel to the beach is located between 25m and 40m.
HOBOYA KOH TAO ほうぼう屋タオ島, 84360 Koh Tao
White Rock Koh Tao <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.5)</span>

White Rock Koh Tao (★4.5)

White Rock, also known as White Rock and Black Rock, is located to the south of Nan Yuan Island, adjacent to Koh Tao. The whole site is a fairly large root, so no matter how many dives you do, you will never get bored of it, depending on the course you take, the depth and the type of life you observe. Beginners and seasoned divers alike should enjoy it.
HOBOYA KOH TAO ほうぼう屋タオ島, 84360 Koh Tao
Southwest Pinnacle <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.6)</span>

Southwest Pinnacle (★4.6)

30 to 45 minutes southwest of Koh Tao, these large pinnacles range from 30 to 5 m. Sandy ocean floor with big rocks on the south side. many cracks on the pinnacles where small wildlife can be found. The shallower parts of the pinnacles are covered in magnificent anemones.
bali fun diving
SD Point <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.6)</span>

SD Point (★4.6)

SD Point is an abbreviation for ‘Sekolah Dasar’ or elementary school. It’s arguably the most diverse collection of corals in Bali. Having shelf slope bottom parallel along the beach cover with abundant corals make this site is great for Drift Dive activities. Occasionally the current can be very strong.
HOBOYA KOH TAO ほうぼう屋タオ島, 84360 Koh Tao
Shark Island <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.4)</span>

Shark Island (★4.4)

Shark Island ranges from a depth of 0 to 25 meters, making it one of Koh Tao’s most versatile dive sites. Currents can be strong around this site, but divers can usually take refuge in the lieu of the island and enjoy a relaxed dive.
Peter S. (#417559)
Hans Reef <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.5)</span>

Hans Reef (★4.5)

Hans Reef is a gentle sandy slope that runs parallel to the shore and features a large coral mound and smaller outcrops. It is suitable for divers of all experience levels and is often used for training. It is excellent for night diving and navigation. Coral blocks attract a lot of marine life!
Adang Sea Divers, 91110 Koh Lipe
Stonehenge <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.6)</span>

Stonehenge (★4.6)

One of the most beautiful dives in Thailand. A dome shaped pinnacle covered in a carpet of soft corals of the most vivid oranges, yellows, blues and purples. From 6m depth at the top of the pinnacle reaching a sandy area from 12-18m. Amazing outcrops of rock on the South Eastern resembling the famous Stonehenge.