Sponge Gardens

A broad sandy plateau at 12 to 20 metres hosts one of the Gulf of Gabès' most distinctive benthic communities — an almost garden-like arrangement of barrel sponges, elephant ear sponges, and massive yellow encrusting forms that rise up to half a metre from the seabed. The exceptional sponge density is linked to the gentle current that channels nutrient-rich water across the plateau, sustaining filter feeders at extraordinary scale. Nudibranchs and flatworms graze across sponge surfaces, while large cuttlefish patrol the sandy corridors between sponge clusters.