a moray eel poking its head out of its hiding place

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