Diverse is the best way to describe the Red Sea. The Red Sea's reefs epitomize diversity; they are home to more than 200 soft and hard corals. Coral reefs are formed by calcium carbonate produced by tiny coral polyps that populate tropical climates. Coral grows at a rate of only a third of an inch each year and the Red Sea provides the perfect resource from which reefs are able to grow - warm, salt water.

Besides being stunningly beautiful, reefs act as the primary source of food and shelter for fish and invertebrates. They have a significant impact on the environment by also protecting the shoreline from erosion.

And just as a reef influences the environment and the life around it, its own life is directly dependent upon human activities, which can range from construction along the coast-line to changes in water levels. If these behaviors are present, a coral reef will easily be damaged.

The sustainability of the Red Sea's reefs is vital to all of the sea's inhabitants