This is a sea fan of the genus Melithea. They are octocorals, whose polyps each have eight tentacles. This sea fan had withdrawn its polyps, so it was not feeding. I found it in a swim-through on the great white wall: an amazing vertical reef covered in white soft corals. The great white wall can be found on Rainbow Reef, in the Somosomo Strait, Fiji. I traveled there as a group leader for Road Scholar: a travel learning program for elders.
For my Road Scholar friends:
I’m so sorry for my radio silence. I haven’t forgotten about you. Thank you so much for your continued patience 😊 I love you folks.
Chris says
This is so interesting, thanks for sharing!
Joshua J Wittmer says
Thank you Chris!