Oculina Reefs

This colorful community of marine organisms was photographed in the Oculina Bank off the coast of Florida where scientists began a six-day expedition today.

Among the team's goals is the monitoring of marine life in the area and the exploration of new portions of the reef recently revealed in a high-resolution sonar scans of the region.

Scientists from the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution discovered the Oculina reefs in 1975 while cruising around the Florida coast in deep-sea submersibles. They are located at depths between 250 to 300 feet and were built over thousands of years and were built by the tiny ivory tree coral Oculina varicose. Corla pinnacles, mounds and ridges can rise 100 feet off the seafloor.

Over the past three decades, shrimp and scallop fishing have damaged large portions of the reef. Despite this, the remaining portions of the reef remain healthy and are home to more than 70 fish species.

The Oculina expedition is funded by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and will run from October 12-18. 

--Ker Than

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Credit:  NOAA/Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution