| Shallow or tropical water coral Reef | Deep water coral reef |
|---|---|
| require sunlight for growth | sunlight not required |
| more accessible & known to scientists | lesser known to scientists; only ~75% of the world’s ocean floor has been mapped in high resolution |
| cover less ocean floor area | cover more ocean floor area |
| provide habitats to various sponges, crabs, and sea stars | provide habitats for sharks, swordfish, sea stars etc |