alainaflute
Greg
Jody
E.G.D.Beachcombing for Coral
Posted by Jody on July 12, 2012
Corals are actually composites of small, fragile marine animals called coral polyps. They typically live in closely grouped colonies, consisting of thousands of identical individuals.
Seashells and Coral from Anaehoomalu Bay Beach, The Big Island, Hawaii
When we think of beachcombing for coral, we are actually referring to what is classified as the “hard corals” (as opposed to soft corals). Hard corals, also named stoney corals, are known as the reef-building corals. The coral polyps create skeletons out of calcium carbonate. The polyp’s soft, delicate body is then protected by this hard skeleton. The coral pieces we find on beaches are really the bits and pieces of the skeletons of “hard coral” left behind after the animals die.
The best beach Greg and I have ever been to for collecting coral is Hapuna Beach State Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. There we found piles and piles of beautiful coral pieces like the ones pictured here. As you can probably guess, live coral thrives just off the shores of Hapuna Beach.
Hapuna Beach, Hawaii
Piles of coral on Hapuna Beach, The Big Island, Hawaii
Coral found on Hapuna Beach, The Big Island, Hawaii
We’d love to hear about the coral you’ve found on beachcombing trips! Do you have a favorite coral collecting beach?
Hapuna Beach, Hawaii (Photo: Greg Diehl)
If you would like to read more about coral and coral reefs, The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) has a wonderful website full of fascinating facts. The Coral Reef Alliance website states that they are “the only international organization working exclusively to save coral reefs.” I especially enjoyed their page “Coral Reef Overview.”
Happy beachcombing and coral hunting to you!
Tips? Suggestions? Beachcombing secrets? Please share your thoughts in the comment space below. Thanks~
seapunk2 said
Is that fossilized coral?
Want to trade some for something I find here on PNW?
E.G.D. said
Aloha, there! I don’t think the coral you find on the beach is generally “fossilized,” though there are many places you can find coral fossils (often quite far away from modern beaches). The ones Jody found are the “skeletons out of calcium carbonate” she mentions in her article, so it’s sort of like finding coral bones. As for trading, I’m sure Jody will get back to you on that
Jody said
Nope, not fossilized. We didn’t bring back any extra coral from the trip to the Big Island. It was just so darned heavy that we kept the souvenir bits to a bare minimum. I will definitely keep a trade in mind in the future. Are you interested in coral from all areas?
seapunk2 said
Anything the sea offers, actually, that seems of interest. I have stones, bones, shells, coral, sponge, driftwood, etc…
Jody said
Me too! I just don’t have the storage space.
I’ll keep that in mind, though.
alainaflute said
There was plenty of coral on the beach in Key West!
So… wear good shoes.