What is Fire Coral?

Most Scuba divers who have dived in tropical or sub-tropical reefs will have been cautioned about getting stung by the notorious Fire Coral, and will have filed away the information as just one of the many things that can sting or harm you underwater.

Fire Coral also known as Stinging or Red Sea Coral belongs to the Milleporina order of species and contrary to popular belief isn’t really a coral at all. Fire corals are marine organisms that form colonies that look just like real coral; they are actually closely related to the jellyfish family and other stinging anemones.   The Fire Coral gets its name from the painful burning sting that it inflicts on the unwary diver that brushes against it.

How does it look? How can I identify Fire Coral?

Fire Coral is unfortunately rather polymorphic and can appear in several physical forms. Sometimes it appears heavily branched and delicate in appearance, other times it is more, fan-blade shaped and massive. Most common forms it appears is either branched, plated, or encrusted.   It is believed to have close to 50 varieties of Fire Coral species making it rather hard to describe. Most of the time Fire corals have a bright yellow-green and brown skeletal covering fading to a whitish hue at the tips, and will be soft and hairy  and rounded up close.

Where does it exist?

Fire Coral are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical waters. Primarily occurs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Fire corals form extensive outcrops on projecting parts of the reef where the tidal currents are strong. They are also abundant on upper reef slopes and in lagoons, and occur down to depths of 40 meters.

What does it Do?

Fire Coral belongs to the family of Milleporina,  Millepora means ‘many pores’. Upon close inspection, the coral appears to have long fine hairs that protrude from the skeleton. The hairs possess clusters of stinging cells (nematocysts) that inflict the stings on human skin. These hairs capture prey, and help feed the coral.

Divers often mistake fire coral for sea weed or normal coral and may brush against it or lean on it for support. Upon contact the very small nematocysts on the corals hairs release toxins while the sharp calcified exo-skeleton cuts the divers’ skin. A fire Coral sting can cause intense pain and can be felt from two days to up to two weeks. The degree of pain varies on the duration of contact and the number of nematocysts that entered the wound.

Prevention

The best method of prevention is to practice and master Buoyancy control and avoid unnecessary contact with any coral.  Wearing full wetsuits & diving gloves is a good way to ensure you don’t accidentally get in contact with Fire Coral.

What do I do if I get stung?

The first step is to rinse the wound or affected area with salt water, as fresh water will increase the pain. Secondly use vinegar (acetic acid) or Isopropyl Alcohol to kill any remaining stinging cells clinging to your skin and help break down the toxin. Use tweezers to put out any stinging hairs. Immobilize the affected limb to prevent spreading and Finally, apply hydrocortisone cream as necessary to reduce inflammation. It is also critical to watch the wound for infection, which will have to be treated with antibiotics by a doctor.

If the diver displays symptoms like shortness of breath and swelling of the tongue, neck and face, he has probably developed an allergic reaction to the sting and should be treated for allergy and rushed to a hospital.

Photos by: Nick Hobgood, Tim Sheerman-Chase, Scary Cow, welshcathy, Paul and Jill, Craig Grobler