Underwater Drones Discover Teeming Coral Reefs Off Benin, Long Presumed Dead

Researchers using underwater drones have discovered seemingly healthy mesophotic coral reefs off the coast of Benin, West Africa, which were long presumed dead based on 1960s surveys. The footage revealed eight different types of coral and eight species of fish, providing the first evidence of live mesophotic coral reefs on the Benin continental shelf. This discovery offers new insights into the reef's history and how the ocean in the region has changed over time.