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30/04/2006: "THE MASSIVE CORALS ......porites"

These giant coral formations are a barometer illustrating just healthy a coral reef might be.

They first to suffer on sick, slowly dying reef’s.

Low Isles (off busy Port Douglas) is an easy example to check. The remains of these huge corals exist, now covered with soft coral growths - which are more plants than hard corals.

Hundreds of years old, these hemispherical piorites corals are the underwater equivalent of ancient or giant trees on land.

Tipped to become more appreciated as they become increasingly rare.

Each mound the size of a small car, were photographed on the outer reef edge, off Townsville, when these pictures were made in October 1983.

Worthwhile collecting new pictures now, especially if you have an interest in documenting the rapidly changing world of marine natural history.