Alcyonacea Collection (page 6)

Gorgonian sea fans on a reef in Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Diver in background

Sea fans illuminated by diver with twin lights, Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Red fan cora with sunburst, Papua New Guinea
Red fan coral (Melthaea sp) with sunburst taken at the Arches, Witu Islands, Papua New Guinea

Colony of red whip fan coral with fish species, Papua New Guinea
Colony of red whip fan coral (Ctenocella sp.) with various fish species, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

A blue starfish clings to a reef in Komodo National Park, Indonesia
A blue starfish (Linckia laevigata) clings to a reef in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. This tropical region in Indonesia is known for its spectacular coral reefs and high marine biodiversity

A pink anemonefish swims near its host anemone near the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. This beautiful, tropical region is home to an incredible variety of marine life

A brain coral and gorgonians grow off Turneffe Atoll in Belize
A brain coral and gorgonians grow in shallow water off Turneffe Atoll in Belize. This part of Central America is well known for its warm, clear waters and beautiful coral reefs

Red whip fan coral with diver, Papua New Guinea
Red whip fan coral (Ctenocella sp.) with diver, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

Cardinalfish surround a beautiful set of soft corals in Indonesia
Cardinalfish surround a beautiful set of colorful soft corals in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. This tropical region in Indonesia is known for its spectacular coral reefs

Beautiful soft corals and invertebrates on a reef in Indonesia
Brilliant soft corals and other colorful invertebrates compete for space to grow on a reef near the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia

A beautiful soft coral colony grows on a reef slope in Indonesia
A beautiful soft coral colony grows on a reef slope in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. This tropical region in Indonesia is known for its spectacular coral reefs and high marine biodiversity

Diver and soft coral, Fiji

A diver descends in a cavern above a gorgonian sea fan, Indonesia
A diver descends in a cavern above a gorgonian sea fan, Gorontalo, Sulawesi, Indonesia

A very rare Blue Sea Fan, Gorontalo, Indonesia
A very rare Blue Sea Fan, Acanthogorgia sp. found below 45 meters depth, with diver in background, Gorontalo, Indonesia

Diver looks on at a Raja Ampat reefscape covered in crinoids, Indonesia
Diver looks on at a Raja Ampat reefscape covered in crinoids, West Papua, Indonesia

Diver looks on at a bright red soft coral and sponge hanging from a cave
Diver looks on at a bright red soft coral Dendronephthya sp. and sponge hanging from the roof of a cave, Gorontalo, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Colony of red whip fan coral with diver, Papua New Guinea
Colony of red whip fan coral (Ctenocella sp.) with diver, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

Soft corals thrive in shallow water in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. This remote region is known for its beautiful reefs and spectacular marine biodiversity

A soft coral colony and invertebrates in Raja Ampat, Indonesia
A beautiful soft coral colony and other invertebrates grow in a channel of Raja Ampat, Indonesia. This remote region is known as the heart of the Coral Triangle

Soft corals, sponges, and other invertebrates on a reef in Indonesia
Soft corals, sponges, and other invertebrates compete for space on a beautiful reef in Indonesia. This tropical region, within the Coral Triangle, is home to an incredible variety of marine life

Vibrant soft coral colonies grow on a reef in Lembeh Strait
Vibrant soft coral colonies grow on a reef dropoff in Lembeh Strait, Indonesia. This area is known for its spectacular marine biodiversity

Colorful reef scene of orange anthias swimming amongst hard corals
Colorful reef scene with red, yellow and green hard corals, and a school of orange anthias, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Golden sweepers swim under a coral bommie in Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Golden sweepers (Parapriacanthus ransonnetti) swim under a coral bommie in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. This remote region is known as the heart of the Coral Triangle

Colourful sea fan with crinoid, Papua New Guinea
Colourful sea fan (Melithaea sp.) with crinoid, Restorf Island, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

Red whip fan coral with diver and anthias fish, Papua New Guinea
Red whip fan coral (Ctenocella sp.) with diver and purple athias, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

Sunlight illuminates a large gorgonian growing on a reef in Raja Ampat
Sunlight pours down on a large gorgonian growing on a reef in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. This remote, equatorial region is known as the heart of the Coral Triangle

Beautiful soft coral colonies grow on a reef in Indonesia
Beautiful soft coral colonies grow on a healthy coral reef in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. This tropical region in Indonesia is known for its spectacular coral reefs and high marine biodiversity

A large red gorgonian sea fan and tiger cowrie in waters off Fiji
A large red gorgonian sea fan and large tiger cowrie (Cypraea tigrisis), Beqa Lagoon, Fiji

Diver approaching large group of mushroom leather coral, Raja Ampat
Diver approaching large group of mushroom leather coral (Sarcophyton sp.), Raja Ampat, Indonesia

White black coral bush with overhanging tree shadows above
White black coral bush seen through a window in the water, with overhanging tree shadows above, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

A beautiful coral reef grows in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. This tropical region in Indonesia is known for its spectacular coral reefs and high marine biodiversity

A diverse array of reef-building corals in Raja Ampat, Indonesia
A diverse array of reef-building corals grow in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. This beautiful region is known for its spectacular reefs and high marine biodiversity

Soft corals grow in shallow water in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. This region is known as the heart of the Coral Triangle and houses the highest marine biodiversity on Earth

Soft corals thrive on a healthy reef in the Solomon Islands. This part of Melanesia is known for its high marine biodiversity and is a popular destination for divers and snorkelers

A huge gorgonian grows on a reef in Komodo National Park, Indonesia
A huge gorgonian grows on a healthy reef in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. This tropical region in Indonesia is known for its spectacular coral reefs and high marine biodiversity

Black coral and soft coral seascape, Fiji

Small soft coral, Beqa Lagoon, Fiji

A colony of red whip fan corals with diver, Papua New Guinea
A colony of red whip fan corals (Ctenocella sp.) with diver, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

Whip sea fan with elephant ear sponge and diver, Papua New Guinea
Whip sea fan (Ctenocella sp.) with elephant ear sponge and diver, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

Spiral coral whip on black background

Coral reef seascape, Australia

Extreme close-up of soft coral on a Fijian reef

Close-up view of a Hawksbill sea turtle next to a red sea fan, Indonesia
Close-up view of a Hawksbill sea turtle next to a red sea fan on a reef in Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Red sabre squirrelfish hiding in a forest of gorgonian sea fans
Red sabre squirrelfish (Sargocentron spiniferum) hiding in a forest of gorgonian sea fans, Layang Layang, Spratly Islands, Malaysia

Strange coral growth in a lake in Palau
A marine lake in Palau has an almost dream-like appearance due to the water color and strange coral growth

Gorgonians grow in shallow water off Turneffe Atoll in Belize
Colorful gorgonians grow in shallow water off Turneffe Atoll in Belize. This part of Central America is well known for its clear waters and beautiful coral reefs

Beautiful soft coral colonies on a coral reef in Indonesia
Beautiful soft coral colonies grow on a healthy coral reef in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. This tropical region in Indonesia is known for its spectacular coral reefs and high marine biodiversity

Colorful soft corals grow on a reef dropoff in Raja Ampat
Colorful soft corals and invertebrates grow on a reef dropoff in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. This beautiful region is known for its spectacular reefs and high marine biodiversity

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

Alcyonacea, also known as soft corals, are a mesmerizing sight in the underwater world. In the vibrant coral reefs of Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, Gorgonian sea fans (Acalycigorgia sp) sway gracefully with the current. Their delicate branches create an enchanting display of colors and patterns. Amongst these gorgonian sea fans, Sea whip corals (Ellisella ceratophyta) thrive alongside Ring-tailed cardinalfish. The intricate structures of the sea whips provide shelter and protection for these small fish, creating a harmonious ecosystem. In Egypt's Red Sea, kaleidoscopic images of soft corals (Dendronephthya sp) come to life. Their vivid hues paint the underwater landscape with shades of reds and pinks. Encrusting sponges and Pygmy sweepers find solace amidst this thriving coral reef community. Venturing further into West Papua's Indonesian waters reveals another spectacle - Soft corals (Dendronephthya sp. ) growing on the seabed. These resilient organisms add depth and texture to their surroundings while providing essential habitats for countless marine species. Triton Bay near Kaimana is home to flower tree soft corals (Umbellulifera sp. ), showcasing their ethereal beauty beneath the surface. As if plucked from a dreamland, these delicate structures captivate divers with their elegance. The interconnectedness between different marine creatures becomes evident when observing Flamingo tongue cowries preying upon common sea fans like Gorgonia ventalina in East End Grand Cayman's Caribbean Sea. This complex relationship highlights nature's balance even within seemingly fierce interactions. Carl's Ultimate dive site in Papua New Guinea offers a glimpse into a healthy coral reef landscape teeming with life. Here Alcyonacea thrives alongside other diverse forms of marine life creating a vibrant and thriving ecosystem.