What Divers Should Know About Red Coral

Red coral, often called precious coral, designates marine corals of the genus Corallium. These captivating octocorals form small, leafless bushes, sometimes reaching up to a meter in height. You'll recognize them by their distinctive appearance: a durable, intensely colored red or pink-orange skeleton is overlaid with soft, bright red tissue, from which numerous retractable white polyps protrude, offering a delicate contrast.

Encountering red coral often means exploring deeper waters or low-light environments. These corals prefer rocky seabeds with minimal sedimentation, thriving within dark caverns or crevices. In the Mediterranean, particularly species like Corallium rubrum, divers can sometimes discover them in accessible cave systems, such as those off Sardinia, at depths ranging from 4 to 35 meters. However, shallower populations have largely diminished, so expect to look a bit deeper for these striking organisms.