Some take comfort in their bold appearance.
But others take shelter in the coral.
Such as these sedentary and appropriately named Christmas tree worms,
filtering food from the gentle currents.
For many,
entire lives are played out within the clumps of coral.
Mandarin fish.
A dozen of them may inhabit one outcrop.
Males are always on the hunt for a mate.
And competition is fierce.
Disputes start with a polite warning.
The rising dorsal fin is a clear signal to back off.
But sometimes, going for the jugular is the only way.
The fight over, it's time to get down to business.
Spawning is a brief affair.
Then the eggs are left to the mercy of the current.