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Nicaraguan
Reefs
Underwater Paradise
In
Nicaragua you can find a beautiful, hidden world below the surface
of the blue water.
The Belize Barrier Reef is the second largest barrier reef in the
world, with a length of over 300 kilometer. This same reef that
starts off the coast of Belize is present in Nicaragua. The Corn
Islands are surrounded by this reef and offer probably the best
opportunity in Nicaragua for diving and snorkeling. You can see a
truly amazing world only minutes away from the white beach of Corn
Island.
The coral reef is present around both Little and Big Corn Island. As
any coral reef, it provides a great place for fish and other animals
to shelter and feed. Reefs are located in shallow, warm waters, and
therefore also vulnerable to storms and human activity on the
surface. Some parts of the reef have indeed been damaged by
hurricanes as well as human activity. Other parts of the reef are
very healthy, though, and in any way the coral still provides a
place to observe beautiful fish and plants.
You can expect to see Brain Coral, the famous blocks of brain-like
coral that are situated on the seafloor. Staghorn Coral is also
present, which is a type of coral that looks like the antlers of a
deer. The branches can grow several meters high. Pillar Coral can
also grow more than two meters tall. This type of hard coral is
rather solid, though, and looks less fragile than the Staghorn
Coral. The pillars (hence the name) grow from the floor and the tiny
polyps can be seen feeding (coral is in fact a very special animal,
not a plant).
Another type of hard coral is the Star Coral, whose star-shaped
polyps justify its name. Soft coral can also be found around the
Corn Islands. Sea Fans are an example of this type of delicate
coral. Many other types of coral can be found off the Nicaraguan
coast. They come in many different colors - from red to yellow and
from purple to black - and they give the underwater world a
spectacular image. In addition to the coral, many sea anemones and
plants will ensure that big portions of the seafloor are covered and
empty sand patches are consequently a rare sight.
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