diving.voyage
Gorgonian fan

Marine life profile

Gorgonian fan

Recorded at 51 dive sites

Where divers encounter it

Explore Gorgonian fan around the world

Thousands of tiny polyps open into moving water and capture suspended food as it passes.

Dive sites51
Countries19
Animal groupOther
Safety profileGenerally Harmless

Meet the species

What to look for

How to Recognize It

A branching colony spread into a broad fan, usually positioned across the current rather than facing randomly.

How It Behaves

Thousands of tiny polyps open into moving water and capture suspended food as it passes.

Special Ability

Flexible branches bend with surge while a fan-shaped design exposes maximum feeding area to the current.

Dive responsibly

Share the water well

How to Approach

Keep fins, gauges and camera equipment well clear. Even brief contact can break branches that took years to grow.

Safety

Many invertebrates are fragile, venomous or irritating to skin. Keep hands, fins and equipment clear.

Worth knowing

The detail you remember

Interesting Facts

Gorgonian fan is closely adapted to its habitat, and patient observation reveals details that a quick swim-by misses.

Where to Find

Look closely on reef walls, coral heads, sand, seagrass, jetties and shaded overhangs.

Known countries

Sint MaartenEgyptFijiAustraliaIndonesiaHondurasTrinidad and TobagoSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesItalyDominican RepublicIndiaUnited KingdomCroatiaPhilippinesThailand