Coral reefs are sometimes called the rainforests of the sea because they are home to an enormous variety of life in a small space. Sanganeb is a coral atoll — a reef that forms a rough ring with a calm lagoon in the middle. The walls of the reef drop almost straight down into very deep, dark water, which is why big ocean animals like sharks and dolphins come close to shore here.
More than 300 species of fish have been recorded at Sanganeb. Hammerhead sharks cruise along the deep outer walls in large groups. Spinner dolphins leap and twist in the bow waves of visiting boats. Giant manta rays glide through the water like underwater kites, and green sea turtles rest on the coral ledges. The reef also has huge barrel sponges — some of them are as wide as a bathtub and hundreds of years old.
The reef has a small lighthouse on it that has been guiding ships safely through the Red Sea for over a hundred years. Divers from around the world come to Sanganeb to explore the underwater world, and marine scientists study the reef to understand how coral ecosystems work. Protecting Sanganeb helps scientists learn how to look after reefs everywhere on Earth.