Sea Plume in Cozumel
Sea Plume (*Pseudopterogorgia* species) in Cozumel: how to identify it, why the reef top sways, and what it is confused with.
Tall feathery three-dimensional plumes in purple-grey or tan, bending and recovering in the current. Soft and flexible, unlike the stiff sea rods beside them.
Quick ID
| Scientific name | Pseudopterogorgia species |
|---|---|
| Group | Soft Corals & Sea Fans |
| Typical size | Colonies to 1.5 m tall |
| Depth range | 3–25 m |
| When to see it | Year-round |
| Active | Polyps feed day and night |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Notes | — |
Where You Will See It In Cozumel
Reef tops in the current at Tormentos, Yucab, Paso del Cedral and Las Palmas — much of the swaying Cozumel reef top is sea plume.
Reliable sites: Tormentos, Paso del Cedral, Las Palmas.
Behaviour
A colonial soft coral feeding on plankton. The constant motion of a Cozumel reef top in current is mostly this animal, and it shelters juvenile fish and brittle stars.
Commonly Confused With
- Sea fan — A flat mesh in one plane, not a feathery three-dimensional plume.
- Sea rod — Thick, stiff rods rather than fine feathery branches.
Diving Etiquette And Safety
Do not grab a plume to stop yourself in current. It is an animal, and it is the handhold divers reach for most.
Part of the Cozumel marine life guide · see Cozumel dive sites · plan your Cozumel dive trip
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
