Close-up shot of half-bleach yellow cauliflower coral in clear Pacific water

Beautiful But Bleached Reefs.

This close-up shot captures a yellow cauliflower coral, strikingly contrasting its vibrant yellow and stark white bleached sections. The coral sits on a rocky outcrop, showcasing thick, finger-like branches, where the healthy yellow portions gradually fade into pale white, revealing the impact of bleaching. The texture of the coral is detailed and slightly rough, with each branch covered in tiny polyps that add a grainy appearance, particularly on the yellow areas that remain intact. The background water in this video clip is a rich, clear blue, and the rocky base beneath the coral appears weathered, coated in patches of greenish algae and hints of orange and brown.

Beautiful Cauliflower Coral Dying from Bleaching — Scuba Diving Free Stock Footage.

Filmed in ultra-high-definition 4K (2160p) and HD (1080p) by skilled underwater videographers, this free stock footage is presented in both landscape (16:9 aspect ratio) and vertical (9:16 aspect ratio) formats, making it suitable for social media platforms like Instagram Reels, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts, as well as for widescreen displays. Its quality and versatility make this video an ideal resource for environmental campaigns, NGO projects, documentaries, and educational content focused on coral health and climate change.

Coral bleaching can occur rapidly, sometimes within days or weeks, when corals experience environmental stress. Corals are highly sensitive to even small temperature increases. When ocean temperatures rise by just 1–2°C above normal, corals may expel their symbiotic algae, zooxanthellae, which provide essential nutrients and vibrant colors. The bleaching rate depends on factors like coral species, the degree of temperature rise, and exposure duration. Some resilient corals can withstand slight increases temporarily, but prolonged warm conditions can lead to widespread bleaching within days or weeks. Recovery is possible if conditions improve quickly, allowing the algae to return.