Giant Barrel Sponge in Cozumel

A huge rust-brown or grey barrel with a hard rough exterior and a deep open central cavity. The largest sponge on the reef by a wide margin.

Quick ID

Where You Will See It In Cozumel

Giant Barrel Sponge is tagged on reef profiles right along the west coast, across a depth band of roughly 32 to 131 feet.

Deeper, and on the walls. It also shows up on Paso del Cedral, Punta Tunich, San Francisco Wall and San Juan.

Conditions change the odds more than the site does — the current, the time of day and how much the group has already stirred up the sand. Ask your guide what they have been seeing that week.

Behaviour

Sometimes called the redwood of the reef: large specimens are estimated to be well over a century old, and some Caribbean individuals may be far older. Filters thousands of litres of water a day, and shelters brittle stars, gobies and cleaner shrimp.

Commonly Confused With

• Vase sponges — Vase sponges are smaller, thinner-walled and often brightly coloured.
• Tube sponges — Tube sponges form clusters of narrow tubes rather than a single barrel.

Diving Etiquette And Safety

Never sit in, stand on or put a camera inside a barrel sponge. The surface is a living filter and physical damage does not heal quickly.

Part of the Cozumel marine life guide · see Cozumel dive sites · plan your Cozumel dive trip