Types of Corals in Maldives – 5 Types to look out for in Your Diving or Scuba Diving Adventures

As the name suggests, these are corals that branch out into several levels of branches, sometimes growing to about 2 meters tall. Some of this coral can be quite thin, thus making the branches resemble hands reaching out under water. They have an interesting hue that can appear both pinkish and greenish, but these corals, in general, get their vibrant colour from the algae that live on them. They are also, unfortunately, quite sensitive to bleaching caused by the increasing temperatures, so if you want to see these corals before they are too damaged, head over to the best Maldives resorts soon. You should make sure your tours are eco-friendly to avoid doing any damage to them.

Flowerpot coral or Goniopora coral get their colloquial name from the fact that they are made up many little polyps which resemble flowers, or a bouquet of flowers. They aren't as striking as the corals that stick out in strange shapes and sizes, but they certainly are an interesting species. Remember that corals are living organisms, and this type can be quite aggressive in nature, and thus sting the other types of coral that may be around them.

This is a beautiful type of coral that is bound to have you in awe – its blue tint makes it truly an incredible sight. It gets this hue from the fact that it has the ability to extract iron from the water, and transform it into a blue salt. This colour gets deposited on its tube-like a skeleton, but the polyps that grow on this sometimes hide the blue behind shades of green and brown. This is a very unique sight, as are the various other types. They each grow in different parts of the ocean, so whether you are staying at Adaaran Select Meedhupparu or another resort island, make sure you ask your diving instructor to show you as many varieties as possible.

This coral may appear to look just like large boulders from far, but when you look closely, you will see the patterns formed by the nodules growing on them. They are seen in various different patterns based on the exact variety and are a very interesting sight since they are so intricately detailed. Another interesting fact about these corals are that they are very strong, and can withstand the force of strong waves. Thus, the massive corals you see can actually be decades and even hundreds of years old.

This type of coral doesn't have an exoskeleton, which makes it different from most other types of coral, and this means they are soft in nature. They aren't rocky in texture but they grow on rocks, not limited to flat rocks. They are interesting because of the various interesting hues they are found in and indeed make a brilliant sight. You must look out for these colourful corals when diving or scuba diving in the Maldives. They are found in clusters, and the different mushroom-like organisms are seen to overlap over one and other, in beautiful formations.