Lifeful reef ecosystem, bleached blue and Porites corals, scuba diving footage

Calm Oceans, Quiet Coral Changes.

This scuba diving footage provides a detailed look at a reef ecosystem, where diverse corals—including blue and Porites varieties—show signs of bleaching. In the foreground of the clip, large, rounded Porites corals and sections of blue-hued, bleached coral formations are prominently displayed. Around these bleached areas, a mix of healthy and affected coral species forms a complex structure, where several smaller reef fish dart in and out of these corals. The video shot effectively captures the balance of life and environmental stress within the reef system, offering viewers a glimpse into the dynamic but fragile coral ecosystem.

Vast Coral Reefs Dying From Bleaching — 4K Scuba Diving Footage.

This scuba diving footage captures a thriving reef ecosystem featuring vibrant fish among bleached blue and Porites corals. Filmed in ultra-high-definition 4K and available in HD (1080p), this footage was shot with professional cameras to ensure exceptional clarity. Offered as free stock footage to raise awareness about reef conservation, it is available in landscape (16:9) and vertical (9:16) formats, making it ideal for various uses, from social media platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts to widescreen presentations. This quality and adaptability make it perfect for environmental campaigns, NGO projects, and educational materials that focus on the fragility of coral species under climate stress.

Blue coral (*Heliopora coerulea*) is known for its unique blue-hued skeleton, which is distinctly different from most reef-building corals. Unlike typical scleractinian (stony) corals that form calcium carbonate skeletons, blue coral builds a hard, fibrous skeleton of aragonite—a form of calcium carbonate laced with iron salts that gives it its characteristic blue color. Despite its robust structure, blue coral is still vulnerable to the impacts of ocean warming and environmental stress, including coral bleaching. When exposed to elevated temperatures or poor water quality, blue coral can lose its symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae), resulting in a pale or “bleached” appearance. The lack of algae reduces the coral's energy intake, weakening its ability to grow, recover, and reproduce effectively.