CAULIFLOWER CORAL – PHU QUOC ISLAND CORAL OBSERVATIONS

Cauliflower coral in Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam diving & snorkeling

Pocillopora meandrina, commonly known as cauliflower coral, is a species of coral occurring in the Indo-Pacific and Pacific oceans. As this coral lives in shallow reef environments then we found the domination of this species at the depth of 1m – 1.5m most of coral reefs in Phu Quoc, such as at Coral Steep (a coral reef located in South Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam) and Northeast Coral Reef or Coral Jungle Reef (North Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam)

 

Cauliflower coral in Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam diving & snorkeling
Cauliflower coral at Coral Steep in Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam diving & snorkeling

Under sunlight, cauliflower coral extend their tiny tentacles from polyps to absorb the energy, and the coral they takes carbon from algae and seawater, turns it into calcium carbonate, and uses this chalky substance to build an internal skeleton. In the Phu Quoc Coral Jungle Reef which is the healthiest coral reef of Phu Quoc, you could see gardens of cauliflower corals in close distance.

Cauliflower coral at Coral Jungle Reef, Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
Colorful Cauliflower coral at Coral Jungle Reef, Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam