Glowing with vibrant colour and tucked away in Malta’s underwater caves, the Orange Star Coral (Astroides calycularis, Maltese: Qroll tad-dell) is a true treasure of the Mediterranean Sea, and a favourite among local divers.

Endemic to these waters, this brilliant coral is found nowhere else in the world. With its intense orange hue lighting up shady rock faces and deep marine crevices, it adds a stunning splash of colour to underwater landscapes around Malta, Gozo and Comino.

The coral forms colonies of tiny polyps living together in cup-shaped limestone structures. These colonies can grow up to 30 cm wide. At night, the polyps extend short tentacles to feed on plankton, retracting by day to reveal the bright skeleton underneath.

Thriving between 15 and 50 metres deep, and occasionally as deep as 70 metres, the Orange Star Coral prefers shaded environments like cracks, walls, and caves. Uniquely adapted to darkness, it doesn’t rely on sunlight or algae for survival — unlike many tropical species.

Though breathtaking, the coral is extremely fragile. A single careless kick from a diver’s fins can damage or destroy colonies that took years to grow. It poses no danger to humans, but it urgently needs our care and respect.

So next time you're diving in Maltese waters, keep an eye out for this glowing gem - and remember; admire, don’t touch. Let’s help protect this glowing treasure of the sea for future generations to enjoy.

Have you ever seen the orange star coral in all its glory?