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Welcome
to
the
Coral
Reef
of
the
Florida
Keys
This
page
by
Jerry
Wilkinson
The
undersea
world
of
the
Florida
Keys
coral
reef
is
as
vast
as
the
above
terrestrial
world.
This
page
is
simply
a
sample
page
hoping
to
attract
assistance
in
displaying
this
fascinating
submerged
world;
therefore
it
is
an
eclectic
assortment.
Hopefully,
we
will
soon
begin
with
its
flora,
fauna
and
cultural
objects.
Remember
many
facets
effect
the
colors
of
underwater
photography.
For
this
reason
gathering
reasonably
good
images
will
be
difficult
and
help
is
needed.
See
if
you
can
locate
the
spotted
scorpion
fish
camouflaged
in
the
above
image.
Not
every
thing
at
the
reef
is
of
natural
history.
Above
is
shown
the
support
piling
for
a
1800's
day
marker
beacon.
This
one
is
submerged
at
French
Reef.
Above
is
the
visible
beacon
part
that
was
above
water.
Also
at
French
Reef.
The
waters
surrounding
the
reef
abound
with
beauty.
An
example
of
what
is
normally
the
fascinating
"water
purification"
common
sponge,
above
is
the
fluorescent
blue
sponge.
Generally
the
floor
is
laden
with
growth.
Sometimes
it
is
not
as
at
this
location
off
of
Tavernier
Key
where
a
fresh
water
vent
allows
fresh
water
to
enter.
The
volume
of
fresh
water
varies
with
many
factors,
one
being
the
rainy
season.
Above
is
one
of
the
reef
builder
corals.
When
we
visit
the
Florida
Keys,
one
should
remember
that
it
was
just
a
few
thousand
years
ago
that
the
island
were
live
coral
forests.
Therefore
the
true
native
Keys
animals
were
the
corals,
etc.
Another
reef
builder
was
the
pillar
corals,
of
which
a
very
small
one
is
shown
above.
Viewing
another
submerges
cultural
resource
that
in
time
is
covered
with
natural
resources.
Both
resources
are
now
protected
by
the
Florida
Keys
Natural
Marine
Sanctuary.
All
the
resources
are
effect
by
other
forces.
The
pile
of
rusted
cannonballs
were
uncovered
by
Hurricane
Irene.
The
sponge
is
a
common
sight
on
the
ocean
floor.
Note
the
live
around
the
area.
As
in
the
world,
there
is
healthy
and
diseased
organisms.
Above
is
a
diseased
elliptical
star
coral
and
from
the
appearance
almost
everything
surrounding
it
is
not
well.
Another
of
the
corals
and
this
case
a
healthy
one,
is
the
black
coral.
It
is
the
plant-looking
growth
that
is
flexible
in
the
currents.
Not
all
corals
are
the
rigid
hard
corals.
Concluding
with
man
out
of
his
element
researching
on
the
permitted
wreck
of
the
Capitana
which
sank
in
1733.
The
above
is
just
a
sample.
There
is
more
of
the
reef
to
see.
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