A previously unknown giant coral reef has been found off the coast of Tahiti, French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean.
At 30 metres below the surface, marine explorers described the new find as a “magical” discovery.
The new reef is just over 3km long. Experts have said it is one of the largest ever discovered at that depth.
It was found by a group of marine explorers who were on a deep dive mission to map the seabed in the region.
“We still associate corals with the shallowest tropical seas but here we find a huge previously unknown coral reef system”, said Professor Murray Roberts – a marine scientist from the University of Edinburgh.
Coral reefs are among one of the world’s most threatened ecosystems. Many animals use the reefs as a home; it offers them food and protection from predators.
