Coral reef a protective area, or it may lie between the reef and the shore, and in this case is a flat, rocky area. Fish tend to prefer it when it is present. The reef lagoon is an entirely enclosed region, which creates an area less affected by wave action and often contains small reef patches. However, the "topography of coral reefs is constantly changing. Each reef is made up of irregular patches of algae, sessile invertebrates, and bare rock and sand. The size, shape and relative abundance of these patches changes from year to year in response to the various factors
Tema Reef Tema Reef Tema Reef, also called Tima Reef, is a submerged coral reef in the northern Cook Islands, southeast of Pukapuka. No coral or rock shows above water, but the sea breaks heavily over the reef. The reef measures about , covering a shallow but submerged area of . Legend has it that Tima, an Aitutakian warrior sailed to Nassau, but was chased away by Ngalewu, a chief from Pukapuka. On his return to Aitutaki he passed the reef nearby and named it "Te Toka-O-Tima", the Stone of Tima The reef was sighted by Commodore John Byron on June 21,