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- Habitats The 3 habitats are rocky shores,
sandy beaches and sub-tidal reefs.
- Rocky shores
 Creatures inhabiting this area are sometimes difficult to
spot as they are found under rocks, in crevices and under ledges. A number of these
animals have special adaptations to survive in the rocky shore environments. This
ranges from cryptic colour for camouflage like the elusive octopus, spines as found
on sea urchins, hard protective shells as is the case in most molluscs and pincers
as is the case for rock crabs and hermit crabs.
- Sandy beaches Sandy beaches may seem
sterile environments where the only living things visible are the sea gulls and
holiday makers on a hot summers day. This is however far from reality and on closer
inspection one finds a number of animals in a continuous struggle for survival.
- Sub-tidal reefs The southern African
coast has some coral reef off the Kwa-Zulu Natal coast and temperate reefs along
the south and west coast. This is home to a magnitude of organisms of which little
is known. These extraordinary habitats are hidden away from all except those not
afraid to venture into the water and explore these living reefs. This can be done
by snorkel or SCUBA and once explored they are never forgotten. The temporal reefs
along the eastern Cape coast and especially those off Port Elizabeth (Algoa and
St. Francis Bay) and Plettenberg Bay are abundant with sessile invertebrates like
sponges, ascidians, hydroids, bryozoans and soft corals. These animals are presented
in a sea of colour which is only matched by the flamboyant colouration of nudibranchs,
crinoids and starfish.
- Dive sitesAlgoa Bay is known for a number of excellent
diving reefs. The reefs within the bay vary from high profile with deep gullies
to low profile reefs adjacent to large sandy areas.
- Interesting facts
- Questions and Answers
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