The fire coral is a mustard color tipped with white, and is definitely on every divers list of what not to touch. The stinging cells, called nematocysts, cause short term intense burning and pain. Some people are more sensitive to the effects of the stinging cells. The majority of the sponges seen in this picture are chicken liver sponges (Chondrilla nucula), which looks like a huge glob of wax that is slowly losing a battle against gravity. The fish in the background are very common at all three banks of the sanctuary - brown chromis (Chromis multilineata). (photo: Frank and Joyce Burek)