RIDGES

Ridges are collections of drowned mountains that together form ideal habitats for a variety of sea creatures. In the Gulf of Mexico, ridges are home to both deep-water and shallow-water corals. Additionally, many tropical fish inhabit these ridges. These organisms are able to survive here due to the confluence of warm clear ocean currents and nutrient rich upwellings of colder water.

Pulley Ridge is the deepest known coral reef in the continental United States. It is between 200 and 350 feet below the water's surface, 155 miles west of Cape Sable, Florida, and extends for over 60 miles.