Did you know there countless types of coral? Soft, hard, combinations. Some look like brains. Others the horns of an animal. Coral can be quite beautiful and tempting to touch, but DON'T DO IT! If you touch coral you'll hurt the protective coating and can kill the coral. Or you might accidentally break off a stem of coral that took several years to grow. During a trip in college I was snorkeling and was in rough surf. I did exactly what I knew not to do, put my hands down to stabilize myself when I knew I should 'surf' over the top until I reached shore. I ended up with a nasty cut on my hand and spent precious vacation time at the local hospital. Of course before going to the doctor I wrapped my hand in electrical tape and went parasailing! & now I have a scar on my right hand to remind me of the experience.
To learn more about coral click the related web page link at the top of the screen.