Moray eels hide in the crevices of the reef. Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA

Live Bottom Reefs

Encounter a special kind of reef in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. Here, many colorful invertebrates—sea sponges, corals, sea squirts, and more—attach to the sea floor's rocky ledges, leading to its designation as a "live bottom" reef. This vibrant reef is home to many fish species and is a place for loggerhead sea turtles to forage and rest.

black seabass resting on a live bottom reef — Black seabass. Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA

curtain of soft corals — Soft corals. Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA

a crab hide in a live bottom reef — Callinectes crabs. Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA

Christmas tree worms — Christmas tree worms. Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA

seaweed blenny — Seaweed blenny. Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA

sea star — Sea star. Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA