A Giant Porites in Baa Atoll

Map the Giants corals marhe center bicocca baa atoll manta ray

A Giant 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 sp. and a Manta Ray

There are many ways corals contribute to biodiversity and here is one. This giant Porites sp. measured and reported by @cococaresmv is not only special because of its size, but it is also dear to Manta Rays that use it as a cleaning station.
Corals are organisms capable of living incredibly long lives and are home to many other organisms thriving within, on, and in the middle of their structures.
This colony was found at 19.5m and measures 8.5 m in length. In the last few weeks, it showed signs of bleaching but we are hopeful that given its depth, it will make it, as it must have already done in the past…

Map the Giants corals marhe center bicocca Laamu atoll

Giant 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 sp. from Laamu atoll

The South of the Maldives certainly still harbors a lot of secrets, and the Maldives Underwater Initiative Team is out there looking for Giant Corals. Here comes a report of a Giant 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 sp. from the reefs near Laamu Hithadhoo. The colony sits at a depth of approximately 22 meters and measures around 12 meters in diameter and 3 meters in height. Maahil Ahmed, a coral researcher from the MUI team, has also been able to provide a 3D reconstruction of the colony, which proves incredibly valuable to assess changes to the coral, especially considering the current bleaching event.

Thank you MUI team for your efforts!

Map the Giants corals marhe center bicocca laamu atoll Maldives Underwater Initiative — Giant 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 sp. from Laamu Atoll by MUI

Map the Giants corals marhe center bicocca faafu atoll

Giant Pavona sp. in Faafu Atoll

GIANT PAVONA

A giant Pavona sp. was identified on 24th of March 2023 in the lagoon of Nilandhoo in Faafu Atoll by the MaRHE Center Team.

The colony measures 4m in height and 50m in circumference and sits at a depth of 9.5m. The conditions of the colony appeared good with over 51-75% of it being alive.

Despite the low visibility, shallow inner lagoons seem very suitable habitats for locating Giant colonies.

Giant Porites in Faafu Atoll

📢 NEW MONUMENTAL CORAL

A new very healthy giant colony of Porites cf. lobata, 22 meters in circumference, and 7 meters wide has been reported from the North of Faafu Atoll, Maldives. Sitting at a depth of 7.5 m, it was found on the 8th of April 2024 by team members of MaRHE Center.

Given the slow growth rates of this species, it can be hundreds years old. Considering its optimal health conditions, we strongly believe there can be even bigger colonies in the Maldives. We really look forward to many more reports!

Giant Heliopora in Faafu Atoll

Whilst exploring Faafu Atoll, the MaRHE Center team landed on an uninhabited island and came across this huge Heliopora coerulea. Athough Blue Coral are actually Octocorals, they are nonetheless reef-building organisms, largely contributing to the foundation of this ecosystem. Measuring 9m in length is separated by less than a mt from a second 7m long Heliopora. Were they previously a single huge GIANT? This is one of the questions our future studies would like to solve.

This research is being conducted under the permit NRP2023/79 by Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources and by EPA permit PA/2023/PAR-1