Mysteries of the deep: Scientists seek to unlock the secrets of stunning coral communities - al.com

Mysteries of the deep: Scientists seek to unlock the secrets of stunning coral communities - al.com: "Beyond the reach of sunlight, thousands of feet deep in the Gulf of Mexico, clusters of corals have been growing slowly for countless years.

Captured in photographs snapped by deep-sea explorers, their colorful, intricate branches appear stark against the black water. Crabs with crooked legs and plump worms crawl around the limbs."