The Wonders of the Reef
Editorial by Joel Simon

I love to window-shop. I always have. Strolling along city avenues visually savoring the colorful store front displays, neatly arranged offices, and bustling cafes and restaurants has fascinated me since childhood. I love looking at twilight sky-line vistas through the panoramic windows of high-rise hotels, the expanse of sea through the portholes of ships and the dramatic landscapes I see from airplanes.

But if I had to pick any window in the world, it would be the sumptuous panes of large aquariums. Schools of fish floating in front of my eyes, the undersides of octopus clinging to the glass, and the graceful beauty of dolphins, sea lions, and sharks. These windows were my childhood portals to the underwater world. The creatures behind the glass filled me with wonder, amazement, and the urge to join in their mysterious, silent world. But no matter how close I scrunched my eyes, nose, and flattened lips to the glass, I remained on the outside ... looking in.

As snorkelers, those large panes of aquarium glass are reduced to a simple faceplate, a portable little window that still scrunches my nose, but opens my eyes to a far grander vista than any aquarium. The childhood feelings of wonder and amazement remain. In fact, they’ve grown through experience and education. The big difference is that through the little window of a mask, I’m now on the inside, immersed in that mysterious world ... looking out.

When snorkeling, there are no walls, no cages, no barriers between us and the life of the reef -- it’s truly a "walk" on the wild side. Of all the wilderness experiences available today, snorkeling amidst a coral reef qualifies as one of the best ways to mingle intimately and benignly with the wildlife in their own realm -- on their side of the glass.

Throughout the entire range of exploration, from first impressions to scientific inquiry, the coral reef is fascinating. The novice snorkeler sees a vibrant, captivating tapestry of sea life. Fish of form and color that bring to mind Miro, Dali, and Matisse mix with creatures of seemingly inexplicable design. The seabed is alive. Faceless corals, sponges, anemones, and their equally bizarre neighbors--tube worms, urchins, and crinoids are the products of eons of evolution, yet mostly without terrestrial counterparts. The beginner perceives these as strange, wondrous, undefined objects. Red, blue, yellow, and green; tall, flat, skinny, squat; swimming, slithering, swaying, they all move in consort with the sea. It is an aquatic symphony of color, texture, and form. The neophyte views the reef as one bewildering, thriving organism, cloaked with magic and mystery.

Experience breeds familiarity, and many snorkelers refine their appreciation by learning to identify individual species. Different kinds of fish gradually assume distinct and singular characteristics. Parrotfish, anglefish, trumpetfish, butterfly fish, and more, become as easily recognized as relatives at a family reunion. Differentiation among corals becomes apparent: reef-builders such as spherical brain, branching elkhorn, and massive star coral play counterpoint to undulating sea fans, gorgonians, and other soft corals. Hollow purple arms are now known to be tube sponges. What were previously random drops of color are recognized as Christmas tree worms. Mystery fades as the enigmatic becomes the obvious.

The treasure hunt now begins in earnest. Many creatures survive only by their cryptic coloration and obscure haunts. As the snorkeler’s observational skills become more finely honed, exquisitely camouflaged scorpionfish, flounders, octopus and eels gradually reveal themselves. The small becomes significant. Nudibranchs, hermit crabs, and diminutive dappled shrimp nestled in the tentacles of anemones, unveil their presence. The minuscule becomes magnificent. Soon individuals once obscure become evident. Now for the magic.

Recognizing the reef’s inhabitants is gratifying, but far from an end in itself. For many it is an invitation to explore the ecology, truly a realm of intrigue. As snorkelers we have a splendid opportunity to view for ourselves many behavioral aspects of reef life: feeding, protection, reproduction. We can also observe, appreciate, and speculate on the unique relationships that exist among the myriad creatures of the reef. These are the crucial elements that inextricably bind individual creatures, that dictate survival or extinction, that form the social fabric of the reef community. Reflecting on the neophyte’s view of the reef, these alliances form the connective tissue of a single thriving organism.

Many of these complex associations are not yet fully understood, and still exceed the investigative ability of modern science. Numerous previous theories on reef ecology have proven incorrect, and undoubtedly today’s answers will raise tomorrow’s questions. The mystery returns. Primitive cultures often described unexplained phenomena as magic, and in this sense, the reef is, and will remain, full of magic.

Coral reefs are amazing. This elaborate living network harbors more species of plants and animals, in greater abundance and proximity than any other ecosystem on the planet. Whether you are a novice taking your first glimpse, or an experienced snorkeler probing its innermost secrets, a simple mask will continue to be a marvelous window into this extraordinary world of wonder.