Georgette Douwma / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) with Blueline snappers (Lutjanus kasmira). Rinca, Komodo National Park, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Detail of a soft coral (Dendronephthya sp). Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Georgette Douwma / Tree coral (Dendronephthya sp) on sandy sea bed. Rinca, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) on reef, Indonesia

Jeff Rotman / Thorny Sea Horses (Hippocampus histrix) on Alcyonarian coral (Dendronephthya sp.). Israel, Red Sea.

Birgitte Wilms / Diana's Hogfish (Bodianus diana) and Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp), Red Sea, Egypt

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) schooling Pygmy Sweeper (Parapriacanthus ransonneti) and Lionfish (Pterois volitans)

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) outcroppings and Basslet (Pseudanthias sp), Red Sea, Egypt

Chris Newbert / Sponge (Latrunculia magnifica) surrounded by Basslet (Pseudanthias sp) and Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp), Jackson Reef, Red Sea

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) outcroppings, Sea Fan (Subergorgia sp) and Glassfish (Parapriacanthus ransonneti)

Fred Bavendam / Feather Star (Comanthina nobilis) and (Oxycomanthus bennetti) and Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp)

Fred Bavendam / Basslet (Pseudanthias sp) school, swimming around a deep bommie with Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) sponge and a gorgonian sea fan, Andaman Sea, Thailand

Juergen Freund / Soft coral {Dendronephthya sp} + Gorgonia fan Sulu-Sulawesi seas, Indo Pacific

Jeff Rotman / Close up of Prickly alcyonarian coral {Dendronephthya sp} Red Sea

Jeff Rotman / Prickly Alcyonarian coral {Dendronepthya sp} close-up, Red Sea

Georgette Douwma / Coral reef scenery with soft corals (Dendronephthya sp) and dense shoal of Pygmy sweepers (Parapriacanthus guentheri). Egypt, Red Sea.

Georgette Douwma / Coral reef scenery with soft corals (Dendronephthya sp) and dense shoal of Pygmy sweepers (Parapriacanthus guentheri). Egypt, Red Sea.

Georgette Douwma / Coral reef scenery with soft corals (Dendronephthya sp) and Pygmy sweepers (Parapriacanthus guentheri). Egypt, Red Sea.

Georgette Douwma / Coral reef scenery with soft corals (Dendronephthya sp) and Pygmy sweepers (Parapriacanthus guentheri). Egypt, Red Sea.

Georgette Douwma / Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp). Egypt, Red Sea.

Georgette Douwma / Coral reef scenery with a Coral hind (Cephalopholis miniata), soft corals (Dendronephthya sp) and Pygmy sweepers (Parapriacanthus guentheri). Egypt, Red Sea.

Georgette Douwma / Coral reef scenery with soft corals (Dendronephthya sp) and Pygmy sweepers (Parapriacanthus guentheri). Egypt, Red Sea.

Georgette Douwma / Coral reef scenery with soft corals (Dendronephthya sp) and Pygmy sweepers (Parapriacanthus guentheri). Egypt, Red Sea.

Georgette Douwma / Coral reef scenery with soft corals (Dendronephthya sp), a Coral hind (Cephalopholus miniata) and Pygmy sweepers (Parapriacanthus guentheri). Egypt, Red Sea.

Jeff Rotman / Thorny seahorse (Hippocampus Histrix) on Alcyonarian coral (Dendronephthya sp) Eilat, Israel, Red Sea

Georgette Douwma / Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp.) on coral reef, Rinca, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Georgette Douwma / Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp.) on coral reef., Rinca, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Juergen Freund / Hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus) and brittlestars on a soft coral (Dendronephthya sp.) New Ireland, Papua New Guinea

Juergen Freund / Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp) Kimbe Bay, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

Juergen Freund / Soft coral decorator crab (Hoplophrys oatesii) camouflaged on soft coral (Dendronephthya sp) Kimbe Bay, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

Birgitte Wilms / Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) and Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp), Solomon Islands

Juergen Freund / Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp.) attached to a mangrove root. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010.

Juergen Freund / Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp.) attached to a mangrove root, seen from below, with mangrove foliage visible through the water. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010.

Juergen Freund / Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp.) attached to a mangrove root. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010.

Juergen Freund / Allied Cowrie (Diminovula culmen) camouflaged on Soft coral host (Dendronephthya sp). Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Detail of a soft coral (Dendronephthya sp). Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Detail of a soft coral (Dendronephthya sp). Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Soft corals (Dendronephthya sp) on coral reef, Bali, Indo-pacific.

Juergen Freund / Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp) on a pillar of a jetty, North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Juergen Freund / Close-up of a branch of soft coral (Dendronephthya sp.). North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Georgette Douwma / Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp) growing on sandy sea bed. Rinca, Komodo National Park, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp) growing on sandy sea bed. Rinca, Komodo National Park, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Tree coral (Dendronephthya sp) on sandy sea bed. Rinca, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Georgette Douwma / Tree coral (Dendronephthya sp) on sandy sea bed. Rinca, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Georgette Douwma / Tree coral (Dendronephthya sp) on sandy sea bed. Rinca, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Georgette Douwma / Umbellate tree coral / Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp) partially deflated. Rinca, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Jeff Rotman / Prickly Alcyonarian coral (Dendronephthya sp) Red Sea

Sue Daly / Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp) Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Sue Daly / Colourful Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp) feeding at night, Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Sue Daly / Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp) Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Indonesia, January

GEORGETTE DOUWMA / Pygmy sweepers (Parapriacanthus ransonneti) with soft coral (Dendronephthya sp) Andaman Sea, Thailand.

Sue Daly / Diver shinign torch on Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp) Cebu, Philippines, March 2008. Model released.

Sue Daly / Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp) Cebu, Philippines, March

Sue Daly / Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp) Cebu, Philippines, March

Juergen Freund / Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp) with featherstar attached, Indo-pacific

Fred Bavendam / Pygmy Sweeper (Parapriacanthus ransonneti) schooling near a coral, Adaman Sea, Thailand

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) and Sea Fans (Muricella sp) growing on dead sea fan stalk, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) and Soft Coral (Scleronephthya sp) reef, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) and Soft Coral (Melithaea sp) reef, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) and Giant Barrel Sponge (Xestospongia testudinaria), Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) reef scenic, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) and Soft Coral (Tubastraea sp) reef scenic with schooling fish, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) and (Scleronephthya sp), Feather Star (Oxycomanthus bennetti) crinoids and Ink-spot Ascidians (Polycarpa aurata) in reef scene, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) reef scenic with schooling fish, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) and (Scleronephthya sp) reef, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) reef, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) and (Scleronephthya sp) reef, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) on mangrove roots, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) on mangrove roots, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) on mangrove roots, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) on mangrove roots, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) on mangrove roots, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) on mangrove roots, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) on mangrove roots, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) growing near mangrove roots, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) amid mangrove roots, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) and Sea Fan (Melithaea sp) on mangrove root, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) growing on mangrove roots, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) and Leather Coral (Sarcophyton sp) reef, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) reef, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) reef, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) reef, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) reef, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) and (Sinularia sp) with schooling fish, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) on ocean floor with schooling fish, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) reef with schooling fish, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) reef scenic with mixed species, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) reef scenic, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) reef scenic, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) reef scenic, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Leather Coral (Sarcophyton sp) and Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) on reef, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) reef scenic, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) reef scenic, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) reef scenic, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Leather Coral (Sarcophyton sp) and Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp), Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp) reef scenic, Indonesia