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This sketch shows the main areas of zonation on the reef. Habitat zones are areas of a habitat such as a forest or coral reef that have different environmental and physical characteristics. The two main factors that affect zonation on the reef are sunlight (dependent on the clarity of the water and depth) and exposure to waves (dependent both on depth and shelter by the reef crest).

Branching coral, such as this staghorn coral, are fragile and fast-growing. They are therefore better suited away from the full force of wave action on the reef crest and grow too high to be found in the lagoon or reef flat. They are most commonly found on the fore reef, but are also found on the back reef, the section of the reef between the reef crest and the lagoon.

Boulder coral, as its name suggests, is a type of coral that looks like a boulder plonked on the seafloor. These can range from smaller brain and star coral to large coral 'bommies' some measuring many metres across. These corals can withstand the force of waves and are found on the fore reef, near the reef crest.

Encrusting corals, such as this mustard hill coral, are like a hard crust on the reef. Sometimes they are the same species as boulder corals, and their shape is adapted to the battering of waves on the reef crest.

Branching plate corals are a cross between the branching coral and plate corals in shape. They often resemble small trees or shrubs, with a flat top marked with many small branches. Often found in the lagoon or reef flat, they can be found on the fore reef and reef slope as well.

Plate coral is easy to identify as it looks like, well, a plate. These often dark plates are designed to capture the lower amounts of sunlight reaching down the reef slope.