Marine life profile
Gorgonian fan
Recorded at 51 dive sitesWhere divers encounter it
Explore Gorgonian fan around the world
Thousands of tiny polyps open into moving water and capture suspended food as it passes.
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
Sightings map
Gorgonian fan locations
Plan a dive
Dive sites with reported encounters
Mike's Maze
Sint Maarten
Part of the Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area. It starts at approximately 40 feet (12 m) and boasts healthy coral formations and numerous maze-like swim throughs, passageways wind around coral heads, through arches and over bridges. This location is where the Nature Foundation conducted one of its coral reef restoration projects. Common critters: Many of the 60 TWA fish species! French Angelfish, schooling Chubs, Spiny Lobster, & Foureye Butterflyfish, Elkhorn Coral formations, Special guests: Spotted Eagle Rays, Squid, Caribbean Reef Sharks, Nurse Sharks, Sexy Shrimp in anemones, staghorn coral formations
Diving in Ras Mohamed is a top attraction for divers due to its stunning coral reefs and rich marine life. Key highlights include: Home to vibrant ecosystems with diverse hard and soft corals. Popular spots include Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef, known for their beauty and marine life. Encounter species like clownfish, turtles, and even sharks. Clear waters often exceed 30 meters, ideal for underwater exploration. Suitable for all skill levels, with guided tours available. With its breath-taking underwater scenery, Ras Mohamed is a must-visit for diving enthusiasts.
Everett’s Paradise
Fiji
Everett’s Paradise is less than 3 miles from Toberua Island. -This beautiful site offers two large pinnacles with lots to see from a variety of depth along the formations.
Forty Five - Lady Elliot Island
Australia
Immerse yourself in the breathtaking Forty-Five dive site at Lady Elliot Island! Marvel at the kaleidoscope of marine flora, from vibrant coral gardens to elegant sea fans. Encounter majestic sea turtles gliding gracefully, schools of tropical fish creating a vibrant spectacle, and the occasional glimpse of gentle
Gorgonzola
Indonesia
East of the northern tip of Maratua Islands and about 20 minutes from Nabucco Islands is this dive site. This one is characterized by a beautiful reef top. Wall with sandy plateau at 30 meters. Dive with the right shoulder to the wall.
Kolo-Kolo
Indonesia
30 minutes from Pattumbukan harbour east of Selayar Island. Limestone rock formation along the wall with mild current. Slow drift dive to see abundant gorgonian sea fan and soft corals.
Lumantang
Indonesia
10 minutes from Nabucco Islands in northern direction you can find this beautiful long wall covered with many gorgonians. Diving is usually done with the right shoulder to the wall.
Maccallum Girls
Honduras
Roatan is characterized by its abundance in Barrier Reefs. This type of coral reef usually runs parallel to the shoreline and divers can experience barrier reefs all around the island of Roatan. More info to come.
Pangabatang South
Indonesia
The dive site is a slope covered with corals, huge sea fans and sponges. At 30 meters, a sandy area forms a plateau before the reef drops deeper. There is usually some current, which makes it a wonderful drift dive full of surprises!
Reefy 2nd’s - Lady Elliot Island
Australia
Dive into the wonderland of Reefy 2nd’s at Lady Elliot Island! Delight in a profusion of marine life as you navigate through vibrant reefs adorned with swaying sea fans. Encounter friendly sea turtles gliding gracefully and schools of tropical fish creating a colorful spectacle. With each dive, you’ll be mesmerize
Shark Point, Selayar
Indonesia
Take 20 minutes from Pattumbukan Harbour East Selayar. Sand slope combination with reef to a maximum depth between 30m-40m to find a sharks. Abundant with sea fans and soft corals. Current from mild to strong. Sometimes combination profile needed between drift dive and againts the current.
Black Jack Hole
Trinidad and Tobago
This reef is named for the huge blackjack fish (also known as Black Trevally) population that take residence between May and July. It drops away sharply, revealing stunning sea fans and sponges.
Brown’s Bay
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Just a quick boat ride from our dive shop in Port Elizabeth, is this stunning dive for beginners through to intermediate, starting at 5m/15ft and gently sloping down to 15m/45ft. Usually the current runs South-North so it makes for a wonderfu drift dive, following along the reef as the current takes you.
Canyon
Italy
One of the most interesting points of the St. Stefano bank since you dive in between a canyon created in the rocks. The walls of the rift are covered with red sea fans.
Chorizo
Dominican Republic
Ten minutes away by boat from Bahia Principe Hotel Bavaro, nice coral reef with white sandy bottom at 10 mts of depth. Good site for beginners and advanced divers.
Coral Seafan
Fiji
Twenty Minutes from Beqa Lagoon Resort with depths from 15 to 60 feet, this is a great checkout dive location for divers of all experience levels.
Croce
Italy
A memorial cross lies on a sandy bottom at 32m deep. On the right hand side, a rocky ridge covered by red sea fans rises up to 24m deep. It is the best known dive of the shoal and takes its name from a commemorative iron cross over four meters high resting on the bottom about ten years ago.
Grand Canyon
India
A very shallow reef upto 10m creates a sandt slope till 31m and the a direct drop of a wall to say 60m. There lies a pinnacle not too far from the wall creating a canyon upto 45m deep. Lots of pelagics.
Hand Deeps
United Kingdom
The visibility is usually fantastic as the site is 9 miles offshore and swept with clean water constantly. The diversity of sea life supported by this reef is staggering and combined with the sheer size of the drop-offs and walls makes this a favourite site to all who visit.
Kraj
Croatia
This site is best dived from a dive boat as there is little to no access from shore. The site is rocky pinnacle close to shore with steep drop off around the seaward side of the outcrop and shallow walls along the coast connecting the outcrop to the shore. The site is found near the small fishing village of Kraj
Lighthouse
Philippines
Lighthouse dive site is in line with the lighthouse and the bay headlands. Frequently affected by current hence for advanced divers and higher only. The top of the reef starts at 13m and gently slopes down to a maximum of 45m into the sand. Good visibility on hightide, siltier on an lowtide.
Mainit Corner
Philippines
For experienced adventurers, the current-swept reefs of this site form a triangle abundant in large fish, sea fans, and corals. Its unique geography makes it accessible all year round but can be challenging due to the strong currents, down currents, upwellings, and depth.
Malu’s Mermaid Retreat
Honduras
Roatan is characterized by its abundance in Barrier Reefs. This type of coral reef usually runs parallel to the shoreline and divers can experience barrier reefs all around the island of Roatan. More info to come.
Mu Koh Angthon National Marine Park
Thailand
The Mu Koh Angthong National Marine Park is an archipelago of 42 limestone islands, that hosts a thriving shallow coral reef, abundant with diverse species of coral and marine life. The most well renown dive sites are Koh Yippon, Koh Wao, and Koh Yai, with an approximate depth of 8-16 meters.