Fire Coral in the Keys?

[OCDinNC]

Is there fire coral in the Keys? I just got back from Grand Cayman a couple of weeks ago, and had there my first brush with fire coral. CRAP! Never even knew what it looked like before, but you can bet I spot it right off now! I guess I'll have scars there; definitely not a cool experience. I have dived the Keys several times, but don't know if I've seen it there or not. Is it there?

 

[HappyFunBoater]

I don't think so. If there is, there certainly isn't much of it. Personally, I try to avoid touching anything.

 

[cudachaser]

There is plenty of fire coral in the Keys...all sorts of varieties...Leafy, encrusting etc. Yoou can best ID it by it's mustard like color.

Also, all coral can sting...just fire coral has the worst bite to it

Joe

 

[cudachaser]

PS: On my Avatar encrusting fire coral is in the lower right and leafy of the upper left

 

[wreckchick]

Fire coral in the Keys? Oh yeah. Tons of it.

Rachel

 

[MsParamedic]

What Rachel said! LOL

 

[Scuba_Dad]

That's where I learned what it looked like... the hard way...

 

[OCDinNC]

That's where I learned what it looked like... the hard way...

Yeah, I didn't know what it looked like, until it reached out and grabbed me (That may be streching it...) in Cayman. I made SURE to memorize what it looked like then. I take it there are other types. But at least I know what type got me, and I spot it real quickly.

 

[1amphibian]

Yeah I found it the hard way in Pennekamp park in 89. That's a lesson you only have to be shown once.

Chris

 

[ScubaTexan]

Now you know why I dive with full-length wetsuits in and around coral...