ARE THERE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CORAL REEFS?
There are four major types of natural coral reefs in the world’s oceans: fringing reefs, barrier reefs, atolls, and platform reefs. Each reef type has its own distinct structure. There are also many types of artificial reefs created by sunken ships and planes, piers and docks, oil rigs and, of course, the Reef Ball. Fringing reefs border islands and continents a relatively short distance from the shoreline. They do not include a substantial lagoon area as the water between this type of reef and the shoreline tends to be rather shallow and narrowly elongated following the shoreline. They are found around many Caribbean islands and are probably the most common type of reef that we see. These coral reef communities are easily accessible to divers and snorkelers who don’t want to travel far from shore. Put on your gear at the beach, take a five-minute swim, and you’re on the reef. The fringing reef starts at a depth of about twenty feet and offers a wide variety of marine life up to about
