Learn To Identify Caribbean Corals
Have to ever wanted to learn to identify Caribbean corals and don’t know where to start? I’ve made it my mission to photograph and document all the Caribbean coral I could find as a way to help scuba divers, snorkelers and underwater enthusiast learn how to identify corals!
Since I first started scuba diving in 2006 I’ve been pretty much obsessed with corals. On my very first dive I saw a coral restoration project and fell in love. Ever since then I’ve been on a mission to help protect corals around the world, and one of the best way I know how to do this is by helping people understand and learn more about coral identification.
My goal is to help people to see reef with new eyes by taking a closer look at corals and I’ve created this helpful guide to identifying Caribbean corals as a simple way for everyone to learn more about corals. If you like this guide share it with your friends and don’t forget to bookmark this page.
Coral Identification Tips for Beginners
With so much to look at underwater it hard enough to keep your eyes looking in one direction. Often when we’re first learning to scuba dive the underwater world is a mystery and our eyes haven’t had time to adjust to the new world. Our imagination easily gets carried away by turtles and fish, stingrays and sharks. And before you know it you’re out of air and the dive is over.
At this point we can be left saying, the dive was great and the corals were beautiful, but that’s where things get interesting. Corals often become the background for our dives and we don’t have enough time to stop and appreciate each little things. It’s like the expressions, it’s nice to take time to “stop and smell the roses”. Corals are like the little flowers of the sea and it’s fun to take our time and appreciate the diversity of life on the coral reef.
Coral ID can be confusing at first especially because the pictures you see in guide books don’t always look like the corals you find on the reef. One of the easiest ways I know how to identify corals is by first starting to look at the different growth forms like branching, or plating, and then start to narrow down each species.
Caribbean corals is a great place to start learning coral identification because there is only a few coral species you need to learn compared to a place like the Indo-Pacific with hundreds of hard coral species.
At the top of this guide I have included some quick identification guides which separate the corals based on their growth form. Below I have listed each coral in alphabetical order and if you click on each coral you can learn more about how to identify each specie in the wild
You can also find more of my articles about Caribbean corals in Scuba Diving Magazine, Scuba Diver Life, PADI, and Girls that Scuba. If you have any questions or need help identifying a coral leave a comment below or find me on instagram @nicole.helgason
What they say
Guide To Caribbean Coral Identification
Staghorn Coral
Acropora cervicornis
Elkhorn Coral
Acropora palmata
Fused Staghorn Coral
Acropora prolifera
Fragile saucer coral
Agaricia fragilis
Lowrelief Lettuce Coral
Agaricia humilis
Lamarck's Sheet Coral
Agaricia lamarcki
Boulder Brain
Colpophyllia natans
Pilar coral
Dendrogyra cylindrus
Pineapple coral
Dichocoenia stokesi
Grooved Brain Coral
Diploria labyrinthiformis
Smooth Flower Coral
Eusmilia fastigata
Golf Ball Coral
Favia fragum
Sunray Lettuce Coral
Helioseris cucullata
Sinuous Cactus Coral
Isophyllia sinuosa
Rough Star Coral
Isophylliastrea rigida
Yellow Finger Coral
Madracis auretenra
Star Coral Hybrid
Madracis carmabi
Ten Ray Star Coral
Madracis decactis
Encrusting Star coral
Madracis pharensis
Rose Coral
Manicina areolata
White Maze Coral
Meandrina jacksoni
Maze Coral
Meandrina meandrites
Branching Fire Coral
Millepora alcicornis
Blade Fire Coral
Millerpora complanata
Box Fire Coral
Millepora squarrosa
Great Star Coral
Montastrea cavernosa
Spiny Flower Coral
Mussa angulosa
Knobby Cactus Coral
Mycetophyllia aliciae
Low-Ridge Cactus Coral
Mycetophyllia danaan
Rough Cactus Coral
Mycetophyllia ferox
Ridged Cactus Coral
Mycetophyllia lamarckiana
Ivory Bush Coral
Oculina diffusa
Pillar Star Coral
Orbicella annularis
Mountainous Star Coral
Orbicella faveolata
Boulder Star Coral
Orbicella franksi
Mustard Hill Coral
Porites asteroides
Honeycomb Plate Coral
Porites colonensis
Thin Finger Coral
Porites divericata
Branched Finger Coral
Porites furcata
Finger Coral
Porites porites
Knobby Brain Coral
Psuedodiploria clivosa
Smooth Brain Coral
Psuedodiploria strigosa
Artichoke Coral
Scolymia cubensis
Fleshy Disk Coral
Scolymia lacera
Lesser Starlet Coral
Siderastrea radians
Massive Starlet Coral
Siderastrea siderea
Smooth Star Coral
Solenastrea bournoni
Blushing Star Coral
Stephanocoenia intersepta
Thin Leaf Lettuce Coral
Undaria tenuafolia
Knobby Star Coral
Solenastrea hyades
