Belize’s coral
reefs are the most diverse and beautiful of all marine habitats which include
both hard and soft corals among other marine life. The sub-tropical climate here provide ideal conditions
for the formation of corals which thrive in shallow, clean water, plenty
sunlight and temperate waters between 16 and 30 degrees Celsius and an
abundance of food sources such as plankton and baby shrimps.
Undeniably, the
geographic formation of Belize’s landscape, along with the moderate climate,
has favored some of the most astounding natural coral reef systems that took several
millenniums to form. Over thousands of years, calcium carbonate skeletons of
tiny coral polyps are collected together, layering over skeletons of past coral
marine life. As each generation of
polyps dies, the corals grows a bit larger giving rise to a cluster of slow
growing hard corals. Soft corals, such
as gorgonians, are also composed of some rigid calcium carbonate as hard corals. Although well rooted, and with no
exoskeletons, soft corals such as sea fans and sea whips move with the waves of
the water.
Sea fans, sea
whips and sea plumes are all soft corals from the gorgonian family. The common sea fans are often sighted in a
variety of brilliant colors while the fan-like polyp colonies are normally
erect, flattened, and branching.
Carnation corals are natural charms that never fail to draw attention. Quite easily, these are one of the most
beautiful that comes in a spectacular range of colors. No less impressive are the tree corals
sighted through the vast reef systems in the cayes, shallows, atolls and
drop-offs. The beauty and biological
diversity in these life forms are a true marvel. Coral might be beautiful to look at but
should not be touched. Watch out
especially for the fire corals from the Millepora family ranging in variety of
shapes, including stick formations, branch formations and even those that
resemble underwater plants. Nematocysts on the tentacle skin of these corals
release toxins which create a burning sensation when rubbed against.
Just about any
imaginable hard and soft coral is sighted in Belize’s reef systems whether
diving or snorkeling around the atolls or other islands. The sheer numbers of and different types of
coral, sponges, and fish, makes scuba diving all the more exciting and
enjoyable. A proliferation of hard
corals easily seen include the brain coral, staghorn coral, elkhorn, rose
coral, club finger coral, rough and smooth starlet and the knobby candelabra.
The brain coral are common but spectacular formations that may take several
hundreds of years to form and may grow as high as six feet. Corals feed at night by extending their
tentacles to catch their food and use the tentacles as protection during the
day. Hard corals, however, enjoy a symbiotic relationship with tiny algae which
live inside their skin. These algae use the coral as a safe place to live, and
in return, can provide the coral with most of its energy.
Staghorn
corals and elkhorn corals are among the most important reef building corals
sighted anywhere in the reef. These hard
coral colonies, although structurally complex, are incredibly fast growing with
an average growth rate of 2 to 4 inches per year and may span as much as 10 ft
wide. This magnificent spread makes
excellent homes for lobsters, parrot fish, snappers and other reef fish.
With such a vast and complex
coral reef system that includes a barrier reef straddling the entire coast with
teeming inhabitants, Belize’s reef is a universe of its own. With top dive sites unmatched anywhere,
Belize is well poised in the Blue Caribbean for extraordinary diving. To book any diving trip in Belize contact Patricia Ramirez at patricia@splashbelize.com
