Coral can take on many forms from branching, tree like structures to flat table tops. They are colourful and bright, often described as underwater gardens. Yet they are double edged beauties. Their ragged structure tore the hulls from wooden ships, causing the death of many sailors. Poisonous fish lurk amidst the beauty and sharks patrol the edges. Charles Darwin’s ship The Beagle had the task of mapping coral reefs, so dangerous were they to shipping, and they formed the topic of his first book. Darwin couldn’t see the reefs underwater, but he still managed to work out how they formed, leaping from top to top with the aid of a “leaping stick”.

Coral has entered our literature with tales of paradise islands, from Ballantyne's The Coral Island in the 19th century to Golding's Lord of the Flies. More recently coral reefs were the setting for the film Finding Nemo, a film so popular it set off a craze for clown fish as pets, causing real concern for the future of clown fish on many tropical reefs.

But no matter the reality, we seem to crave the vision of paradise that coral reefs provide. They will always be glorious places in our hearts and minds.

Originally broadcast in longer form 21 July 2015

Archive producer for BBC Audio in Bristol : Andrew Dawes Show less