• Trunk Bay Beach, considered one of the 10 best beaches in the world is home to the underwater trail.

    Virgin Islands

    National Park Virgin Islands

Brain Coral

Brain Coral in shallow seawater, with a small, embedded Christmas Tree Worm
STATION B: This Brain Coral (Diploria strigosa), with its maze of ridges, is quite different from the Elkhorn Coral at the last station.  Since it's daytime, the living coral animal polyps are tucked down into the valleys between the colony's ridges, but the polyps could still be killed if you stepped on them!  SOS! = Stand on Sand, not corals!
Caroline Rogers
 
Hey! What's that colorful, fluffy thing in the coral colony? Station C shows a magnified view; check it out.

Did You Know?

Spiny Sea Urchin in clear waters on a shallow reef.

The Spiny Sea Urchin has long spines that can readily penetrate the skin on the slightest touch, causing severe pain and possibly allergic reactions. Because the barbs cannot be completely removed, soaking affected areas in vinegar can speed up the in-body dissolving time, typically 3-4 weeks.