White bleached Acropora hemprichii coral with small colorful fish swimming

Bleached Coral Underwater Scenes.

In this underwater video footage, the Acropora hemprichii coral is visibly bleached, taking on a stark white appearance due to stress caused by environmental changes. The coral's branches extend outward, showcasing their once vibrant, now pale structure. Surrounding the coral, several small fish, damselfish, chromis, and other reef dwellers, swim calmly through the scene. Behind the bleached coral, you can see a formation of other types of coral, including tube-shaped Porites coral structures that appear to be either bleached or recovering. Some patches of blue growth are visible, adding a hint of color to the backdrop. The background water is a deep blue, giving the shot a clear and expansive feel, with small fish darting in various directions across the coral reef.

Striking Underwater Footage of Bleached Acropora Hemprichii Coral with Colorful Fish.

Captured in ultra-high-definition, this footage is available in both 4K (2160p) and HD (1080p) resolutions, offering exceptional clarity and detail. The shot, expertly filmed by professional videographers, is available in landscape mode (16:9 aspect ratio) for widescreen use and vertical mode (9:16 aspect ratio) optimized for mobile and social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. As free stock footage, this video is ideal for a range of educational and creative uses, including NGO initiatives, environmental campaigns, documentaries, and social media content aimed at raising awareness about ocean conservation.

Acropora hemprichii, often called staghorn coral, is known for its branching structure, which provides essential habitats for a variety of marine life. However, the stark white appearance in this video is a sign of coral bleaching, a stress response triggered by factors like rising sea temperatures, pollution, and ocean acidification. When these stressors occur, the coral expels the symbiotic algae, the coral then is not only left without its color but also without a crucial food source, increasing its risk of death if conditions don’t improve. Acropora hemprichii is resilient to some extent and may recover if environmental factors stabilize, yet climate change and human impacts make these bleaching events increasingly common.