The mysterious and fascinating depths of the ocean and ocean life
has lured many explorers to take the plunge. The Islands of Hawaii
situated in pristine, clear, blue Pacific waters is manna to every
scuba diver and snorkeler. Hawaii offers all kinds of water sports and
marine life, of which the coral reefs that surround the islands form a
unique ecosystem and are worth exploring.
Know Hawaii’s Coral Reefs before Diving
When the Earth was a young planet the volcanoes that created the Hawaiian Islands were still buried under the sea. The heat and gases that these volcanoes emitted attracted all kinds of life forms, which made their homes here. When they died, their skeletons were deposited on the sea bed. Over the millennia the volcanoes rose towards the surface and when they reached a depth of about 300 feet, light from the surface was able to filter through. This enabled plants to grow and mingle with the skeletons. As centuries passed by, these calcium rich animal skeletons, plants, shells and algae all combined to form the coral that we see today.
The coral reefs are not just a lifeless feature of the oceans. They are
home to myriad types of fish and other water creatures. Exploring
these reefs is an unforgettable experience. You will need to be a
competent swimmer and have knowledge of scuba diving equipment. Further
you will also have to know where the reefs are and where accessing them
is easiest, so as to get the best of experiences. This is where an
experienced charter boat operator plays a big role. Not only will they
be able to take you to the right spots and provide you with the scuba
gear you need, they will also take all the necessary precautions needed
to ensure your safety.
The Four Types of Coral Formation
Before you take that underwater dive, familiarize yourself with the types of coral reefs found in Hawaiian waters. There are four distinct type of zones of coral formation and these are:
- Reef Flat. These coral formation are found close to the shoreline and where the water is only 6 feet deep. This part is sparsely populated by the Reef Flat, as the surge of the waves is strong here and washes away some of the loose layers of coral. The corals in the reef flat are known as rose or cauliflower corals and are formed primarily from algae. The Reef Flat Coral is home to a few species of small fish and a variety of invertebrates that prefer to stay near the shoreline.
- Surge Swept Reef. This zone covers that part of the reef that is between six to twenty feet under the surface. Although there is a constant roll of the waves, the depth reduces the force and a variety of coral types can be found here. Invertebrates like sea cucumbers and urchins live in this part of the reef, along with a wide variety of fish and eels, many of which cannot be seen elsewhere. This is also where you can find green sea turtles.
- Reef Slope Zone. Located at between twenty one to hundred feet down, where the impact of the waves are not that much, the Reef Slope Zone is representative of the more delicate of corals like the finger and rice corals. A large variety of fish, different from those found at lesser depths, cam be seen here, along with the white tip reef shark (which is generally harmless unless it is provoked).
- Rubble Zone. This is located in the deepest part of the ocean and where the rubble of the coral that is broken off from the higher zones can be found. Although not as exciting as the other zones, it is home to the deep water fish and eels that live here.
The coral reefs of Hawaii offer an incredibly beautiful world to explore and one that should not be missed.
