Alcyonacea Collection (#2)

Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) feeding on red soft corals (Dendronephthya sp)
Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) feeding on red soft corals (Dendronephthya sp.) on a reef, Jackson Reef, Sinai, Egypt, Red Sea

Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) sitting disoriented on top of Common sea fan (Gorgonia ventalina) after being driven out of hiding by fisherman

Dead-mans finger (Alcyonium digitatum), close up of feeding polyps, Levenwick, Shetland, Scotland, North Atlantic Ocean, UK

An inflated Guineafowl pufferfish (Arothron meleagris) in front of sea fans (Gorgonia sp)
An inflated Guineafowl pufferfish (Arothron meleagris) in front of sea fans (Gorgonia sp.) on a reef wall, Fiji, Pacific Ocean

Scalefin anthias / Scalefin basslet (Pseudanthias squamipinnis), in front of a gorgonian sea fan (Gorgonia sp)
Scalefin anthias / Scalefin basslet (Pseudanthias squamipinnis), in front of a gorgonian sea fan (Gorgonia sp.), Fiji, Pacific Ocean

Detail of octo coral polyps from Sea fan (Gorgonia sp. ), Triton Bay, West Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean
Detail of octo coral polyps from Sea fan (Gorgonia sp.), Triton Bay, West Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean

Soft coral (Dendronepthya sp) garden, Iris Strait, Triton Bay, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean

Bargibants pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) camouflaged in a seafan (Muricella sp)
Bargibants pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) camouflaged in a seafan (Muricella sp.), Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean

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Wire Coral Crab on Whip Coral (Alcyonacea Order) - Batu Gosoh dive site, Bangka Island, north Sulawesi, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean Date: 24-03-2016

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Ankers Whip Coral Shrimp on Whip Coral (Alcyonacea Order) - Yellow Coco dive site, Bangka Island, north Sulawesi, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean Date: 24-03-2016

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Soft Coral Crab on Glomerate Tree Coral (Dendronephthya sp) - Sabora 1 dive site, Bangka Island, north Sulawesi, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean Date: 24-03-2016

Colourful soft corals, Dead mans fingers (Alcyonium digitatum) and common sea urchins (Echinus esculentus) mass beneath a kelp forest (Laminaria hyperborea)

Tiny (1cm) Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) hides in the branches of its home seafan (Muricella sp)
Tiny (1cm) Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) hides in the branches of its home seafan (Muricella sp.) on a coral reef. Daram Islands, Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Ceram Sea

Sea fans or Alcyonacea species
Coral sea fan, Alcyonacea species, Corallium acarbarium nigrum ramosum 1, sea fan, Keratophyton crusta muricata 2, soft coral covered in stony coral 3

Coral sea fans or Alcyonacea species
Coral sea fan, Alcyonacea species, Isidis palma 1, Erica marina 2, and sea fan, Alcyonacea species, Keratophyton spinosum nigrum 3

Yellow seafan (Leptogorgia viminalis) La Gomera, Canary Islands

Catshark egg, (Scyliorhinus sp. ), on Yellow gorgonia, (Eunicella cavolini)
Catshark egg, (Scyliorhinus sp.), on Yellow gorgonia, (Eunicella cavolini), Punta Campanella Marine Protected area, Costa Amalfitana / Amalfi coast, Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean. October

A shiver of Caribbean reef sharks (Carcharhinus perezi) swim over a coral reef with Common sea fans (Gorgonia ventalina) and sea plumes (Pseudopterogorgia sp)

Split level image of Leather corals (Sarcophyton sp. ) flourishing in shallow water close
Split level image of Leather corals (Sarcophyton sp.) flourishing in shallow water close to uninhabited coral islands. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Ceram Sea

Colourful Soft corals (Dendronephthya hemprichi) with reef fishes, including Golden damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon aureus) at Hin Daeng

Seafan / Red gorgonian (Paramuricea clavata) and Light-bulb sea squirt (Clavelina lepadiformis) Punta Carena, Capri Island, Sorrentine Peninsula, Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean

Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi) swimming over a coral reef, watched by a Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) surrounded by common sea fans (Gorgonia ventalina)

Yellow seafan (Leptogorgia viminalis) La Gomera, Canary Islands

Crinoid (Crinoidea) on Soft coral (Alcyonacea). Derawan Islands, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Cuckoo wrasse (Labrus mixtus) male in front of Red sea fan, (Paramuricea clavata), Stupiste In dive site, Vis Island, Croatia, Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean

Four Pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus bargibanti) on a Seafan / Gorgonian (Muricella sp. ) including one or several pregnant males. New Caledonia, Pacific Ocean

Kaleidoscopic image of polyps on gorgonian coral. West Papua, Indonesia

Primnoella soft coral, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

Split level image of Leather corals (Sarcophyton sp.) flourishing in shallow water close to uninhabited coral islands. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Ceram Sea

Midnight snapper (Macolor macularis) shelters in a cavern on a coral reef with white soft corals (Scleronephthya sp.) and solderfish. Vavuu Atoll, Maldives. Indian Ocean

Soft corals (Dendronephthya hemprichi) growing in very shallow water in the shade provided by a jetty, while a school of Silversides (Atherinomorus lacunosus) circle. Berenice Jetty, Aqaba, Jordan

Gorgonian sea fans (Melithaea sp. ) with a large school of Pygmy sweepers (Parapriacanthus
Gorgonian sea fans (Melithaea sp.) with a large school of Pygmy sweepers (Parapriacanthus ransonetti) Andaman Sea, Thailand

Kaleidoscopic image of soft coral (Dendronephthya sp.) and Lyretail anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis). Egypt, Red Sea

Kaleidoscopic image of Gorgonian sea fan (Melithaea sp. ) Similan Islands, Andaman Sea, Thailand
Kaleidoscopic image of Gorgonian sea fan (Melithaea sp.) Similan Islands, Andaman Sea, Thailand

Close up of tiny (10mm) Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) living disguised in Muricella sp. sea fan. Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea

Female Denises pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus denise) on coral seafan (Annella mollis) Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Ceram Sea

Amphipod (Iphimedia obesa) on top of a colony of Deadmans fingers (Alcyonium digitatum) coral, Loch Carron, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland, UK, April

Tiny (10mm) pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) sheltering in seafan (Muricella sp)
Tiny (10mm) pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) sheltering in seafan (Muricella sp.) Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea

Red gorgonians (Lophogorgia chilensis) growing beneath a Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forest, with female California sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher). Santa Barbara Island, Channel Islands

Redtail butterflyfish (Chaetodon collare) pair in front of a smooth Sea fan (Annella mollis). Butterflyfish regularly form stable pairs. Similan Islands, Thailand. Andaman Sea, Indian Ocean

Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi) swimming over Common sea fans (Gorgonia ventalina) on a coral reef. East End, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, British West Indies. Caribbean Sea

Abstract view of Seafan (Melithaea sp. ). Ra Province, Viti Levu, Fiji. Nananu Passage
Abstract view of Seafan (Melithaea sp.). Ra Province, Viti Levu, Fiji. Nananu Passage, Vatu-i-Ra Passage, Bligh Waters, Tropical South Pacific Ocean

Soft coral crab (Hoplophrys oatesil) climbing out onto a branch of yellow and red soft coral (Dendronephthya sp.) at night. Anilao, Batangas, Luzon, Philippines

Lyretail anthias / Goldies (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) over coral reef with soft corals (Dendronephthya sp) Egypt, Red Sea

RF - Seafans (Melithaea sp. ) growing on dropoff, beneath schooling fish. Boo Windows
RF - Seafans (Melithaea sp.) growing on dropoff, beneath schooling fish. Boo Windows, Boo Islands, Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Tropical West Pacific Ocean

Three hairy sea spiders (Tanystylum grossifemorum) feeding on red soft coral (Gersemia rubiformis). Browning Pass, Port Hardy, Vancouver Island. British Columbia. Canada. North East Pacific Ocean

Gorgonian seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) camouflaged in Gorgonian, Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Starfish on coral, Fiji
A seastar (Fromia sp.) on a red fan of gorgonian coral; Fiji

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Alcyonacea, also known as soft corals, are a mesmerizing sight in the underwater world. In the vibrant coral reefs of Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, Gorgonian sea fans (Acalycigorgia sp) sway gracefully with the current. Their delicate branches create an enchanting display of colors and patterns. Amongst these gorgonian sea fans, Sea whip corals (Ellisella ceratophyta) thrive alongside Ring-tailed cardinalfish. The intricate structures of the sea whips provide shelter and protection for these small fish, creating a harmonious ecosystem. In Egypt's Red Sea, kaleidoscopic images of soft corals (Dendronephthya sp) come to life. Their vivid hues paint the underwater landscape with shades of reds and pinks. Encrusting sponges and Pygmy sweepers find solace amidst this thriving coral reef community. Venturing further into West Papua's Indonesian waters reveals another spectacle - Soft corals (Dendronephthya sp. ) growing on the seabed. These resilient organisms add depth and texture to their surroundings while providing essential habitats for countless marine species. Triton Bay near Kaimana is home to flower tree soft corals (Umbellulifera sp. ), showcasing their ethereal beauty beneath the surface. As if plucked from a dreamland, these delicate structures captivate divers with their elegance. The interconnectedness between different marine creatures becomes evident when observing Flamingo tongue cowries preying upon common sea fans like Gorgonia ventalina in East End Grand Cayman's Caribbean Sea. This complex relationship highlights nature's balance even within seemingly fierce interactions. Carl's Ultimate dive site in Papua New Guinea offers a glimpse into a healthy coral reef landscape teeming with life. Here Alcyonacea thrives alongside other diverse forms of marine life creating a vibrant and thriving ecosystem.