In this amazing dive among Paramuricea clavata, red Gorgonian, we met numerous Gorgon starfish, Basket star or Astrospartus mediterraneus. We are on a rocky bottom between 49 and 52 meters deep, where we have encountered various species of fish and marine species such as sponges, red scorpionfish, Anthias anthias, red mullet, coocko wrasse and more. ...

The Savalia savaglia, commonly known as gold coral, is a species colonial in the family Parazoanthidae. This organism is commonly called "false black coral". It owes its name to its ability to produce a dark-colored horny skeleton, usually blackish. The colonies are generally settled on pre-existing gorgonians skeletons and can grow with ramifications that far exceed one meter in length. The polyps of this coral have six tentacles which is why the species is part of Hexacorallia group. They are bright yellow or whitish, and very large and showy (2-3 cm high), similar to those of Parazoanthus axinellae. Sprout very well from the tissue that lines the skeleton (coenenchyme) and have available alternates, showing smooth tentacles. The polyps do not fall as those of other species but can retract and close in on themselves.

I made this video off the Calafuria reef at a depth between 45 and 48 meters deep. These are isolated rocks outside the reef and not within the reach of all divers.

Diving in conditions of poor visibility is not exactly the best, but reaching the bottom and being in the presence of the red Gorgonia, Paramuricea clavata, Violescent sea-whip repays for every effort and discomfort. ...

The video that I present to you shows a Red Alga that has parasitized a Soft Coral (Paramuricea clavata). Parasitism and mutualism, or symbiosis, are very frequent phenomena in the marine world between similar species and different species. ...