Stony corals exhibit a wide range of shapes. Click on the images below to view a larger image and a description of these corals.

Generally, there are about twice as many coral species in Pacific Ocean reefs as in Atlantic Ocean reefs. Reef-building corals are restricted in their geographic distribution by factors such as the ...

Fascinating, elegant, and mysterious to watch in the water, take a jellyfish out of the water, and it becomes a much less fascinating blob. This is because jellyfish are about 95 percent water.

Carybdea branchi, pictured here, is a relative of the Australian box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri), which is considered the most venomous marine animal. (Image courtesy of Brent Viljoen) They may not ...

Shoreline armoring along Wells Beach, Maine. Coastal managers and property owners often attempt to stabilize coastal land and protect residential and commercial infrastructure along the coast by ...

Soundings, or water depth measurements, are represented by numbers on nautical charts. Water depths are measured by soundings usually acquired by hydrographic surveys. The depths may be in either feet ...

The Disaster Response Center serves many roles, including as a training facility. Here, U.S. Coast Guard and DRC personnel receive training regarding SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic ...

Water temperature and pressure determine how far sound travels in the ocean. While sound moves at a much faster speed in the water than in air, the distance that sound waves travel is primarily ...

Many species of fish and marine mammals inhabit kelp forests for protection and food. In kelp forests, the most commonly found invertebrates are bristle worms, scud, prawn, snails, and brittle stars.

In ideal conditions, kelp can grow up to 18 inches per day, and in stark contrast to the colorful and slow-growing corals, the giant kelp canopies tower above the ocean floor. Like trees in a forest, ...

Satellite photograph of the Great Barrier Reef situated off the northeastern coast of Australia. Stretching for 1,429 miles over an area of approximately 133,000 square miles , the Great Barrier Reef ...

Whether you’re dealing with humans or horseshoe crabs, it’s important to mind your manners. Being respectful of ocean life is vital to protecting endangered species, federally-protected species, and ...