Sea Fan (Gorgonian)

Photo: Ofek Liepaz · © all rights reserved

Dense stands of red sea fans dominate the deeper sections of Coral Gardens, their branching structures oriented perpendicular to the prevailing current to maximise particle capture from the plankton-rich water. These cold-water gorgonians grow extremely slowly — some of the larger colonies at Coral Gardens are estimated to be over a century old — and their presence indicates an exceptionally stable, undisturbed reef environment. The fans host numerous commensals including pygmy seahorses, brittle stars, and basket stars that shelter in their branches.