Follow the Catlin Seaview Survey team as they dive in the aptly named Valley of the Giants in American Samoa in search of a huge coral nicknamed ‘Big Momma’.
At 6.4 metres high and 13 metres across, it’s probably the largest coral in the world.
Porites corals such as this grow very slowly, sometimes just 1cm per year. Taking a core sample through Big Momma has revealed that this giant is 535 years old.
During their dive the team took 360-degree photographs of this impressive coral and the surrounding area. It is part of an ongoing scientific project sponsored by Catlin Group Limited that has been documenting the health of coral reefs worldwide since 2012.
Catlin Seaview Survey
Learn more about this unique global study and the areas surveyed so far.
Dive in
Find out more about life underwater and read about the pioneering work of the Museum's marine scientists.
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