You remembered correctly Dick, it is an octocoral. It's always interesting to look at this coral ans see the paradox of a soft coral that's stony...

I'm baffled as well by the rare comment. It reads almost like they're saying it's 'newly discovered.' Is it rare to this area of the world? I had thought as well that this was abundant.

Out of curiosity does anyone know where to blue pigment comes from? I'd suspect it's some mineral that it's pulling out of the water, but don't know for sure..

Steve