Other Areas of Interest (OSS)

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Several other areas of interest ranging from the mundane (coral reefs) to the magical (elemental vortices) exist underwater in addition to the aforementioned geological formations.
==Coral Reefs==
Coral reefs are magnificent structures painstakingly built from the larvae of coral-a simple marine animal. These larvae attach themselves to the side of a rock and secrete a limestone cup. Gradually, the whole area becomes covered with coral as the larvae reproduce. However, these reefs can only form in areas of warm, clear water and abundant sunlight.
Coral reefs can grow several thousand miles long and almost 100 miles wide. Most possess an incredible array of brightly colored plant and animal life; in fact, most coral reefs contain an entire thriving ecosystem. Sea urchins, phytoplankton, eels, crustaceans, turtles, sharks, and a variety of other predators all compete within the limits of the reef for survival.
Some types of coral contain toxic chemicals and prove dangerous to touch (see page 126 for details).
==Hydrothermal Dents==
Certain areas of the ocean floor contain small cracks or vents. Ocean water seeps through these cracks and circulates around the hot rocks in the lower crust and upper mantle of the earth. Metals and other debris dissolve and shoot back up through the vent, clouding the surrounding area and making the water clarity within a 30-foot radius turbid. Ten-foot long tube worms and giant clams often congregate around these vents.
Characters swimming or walking directly above a hydrothermal vent encounter violent currents and scalding water (see page 125 for details).