Warm water flows along the eastern shores of major land masses. Reef development is generally more abundant in areas that are subject to strong wave action. Precipitation of calcium from the water is necessary to form a coral polyp's skeleton. This precipitation occurs when water temperature and salinity are high and carbon dioxide concentrations are low. These conditions are typical of shallow, warm tropical waters.
Most corals grow on a hard substrate.
Various species of corals are found in all oceans of the world, from the tropics to the polar regions. The Indo-Pacific ocean region extends from the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf through the Indian and Pacific oceans to the western coast of Panama. Corals grow on rocky outcrops in some areas of the Gulf of California. Types of Coral Reefs Fringing Reef - Fringing reefs are coral reefs that grow in shallow waters and border the coast closely or are separated from it by a narrow stretch of water. Fringing reefs consist of several zones that are characterized by their depth, the structure of the reef, and its plant and animal communities.