Colorful fish swim over bleached fire and finger corals in sunlit water

The Bleached Reef World.

Sunlight streams through clear water, casting a warm glow on a reef dominated by bleached fire and finger corals. The corals, with their delicate, branch-like structures, appear pale and faded, their natural colors washed away to shades of white and light yellow. Spread across a rugged, rocky surface, the corals’ intricate forms create a striking contrast against the darker reef bed below. Small, colorful fish—mostly shades of orange and black—dart in and out of the coral branches, adding splashes of color and motion to the video shot. The water, a gentle turquoise near the surface, fades to a deeper blue in the background of the clip, enhancing the visibility of every detail in the foreground.

Shallow Sea Water Covered with Dying Fire Corals — 4K Aquatic Video

Shot in ultra-high-definition 4K (2160p) by skilled videographers and made available in HD (1080p), this free stock footage is available in both landscape (16:9 aspect ratio) and vertical (9:16 aspect ratio) formats, making it ideal for a variety of uses, including social media platforms like Instagram Reels, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. Its detail and clarity make it perfect for environmental campaigns, NGO projects, documentaries, and educational content focused on marine pollution and reef conservation.

Pollution poses a serious threat to coral health and causes coral bleaching. Agricultural runoff and chemicals from fertilizers and pesticides flow into the ocean, leading to harmful algal blooms that block sunlight and increase disease risks. These toxic chemicals can damage coral and weaken their structure. Over time, pollutants disrupt coral growth and make corals, like fire coral, more vulnerable to stress and bleaching. Plastic waste is also harmful. Microplastics and larger pieces can physically damage coral and block sunlight, affecting photosynthesis.