Underwater Grapes

Grape corals (Plerogyra sinuosa) are not common in every coral reef environment although commonly thrives in shallow waters in the Indo-Pacific. The specie is also known as pearl coral, bladder coral or branching bubble coral. Its grape-sized bubbles  increase their surface area according to the amount of light available, they are larger during the day but smaller during the night. It does look attractive with their bubbles among the coral reefs.

Albay Gulf has abundant colonies of these in different colors, which was striking compared to other sites visited. Undoubtedly, it is subject to the threats of climate change and destruction of its reef habitat common to other coral species.