SUNLIGHT ZONE
The Sunlight Zone stretches from the ocean’s surface down to about 200 metres and is warm, bright and bursting with life. Sunlight here fuels photosynthesis, allowing plants such as kelp, algae and seagrasses to grow, providing food and shelter for countless creatures. Coral reefs thrive in these conditions, along with seals, dolphins, turtles, jellyfish, schools of tuna and mackerel, and graceful manta rays. Because this is the only zone shallow enough for humans to explore freely, you might snorkel over a reef, paddle in the shallows, or, using scuba gear, venture deeper. Some divers reach 40 to 50 m, where the pressure is roughly the same as a 1 kg weight on your fingernail.
DID YOU KNOW?
Scientists estimate that more than 80 per cent of the world’s…
