A Coral reef consists of colonies of very small animals which often take hundreds of years to form the structures we see today as the coral reef to explore.  The sea fans which are soft corals are often mistaken for plants, take many years to even grow a few inches.

Just touching corals to see what they feel like, can kill an entire colony. Oils from your skin can disturb the deicate mucous membranes which protect the animals from disease. A snorkler or divers fins can accidentally hit and break off coral colonies. Standing on coral to adjust a mask can do significant damage to a colony.

Boat anchors should be placed in sandy bottom areas to avoid dredging up vast areas of coral.  Make sure the anchor rode will swing clear of any coral heads.  Best practice is to use one of the many moorings provided in the National Park Service