The animals are the dark red polyps, and they build the arboreal structure, secreting the crescent-shaped calcium spicules to give strength. The purpose of the structure is to put more surface area into the current, so that more food can be captured by the polyps.
Stingray station. This dive site was in the middle of a sheltered lagoon partway between Sharm-el-Sheik and the Gulf of Suez. The silver sweepers like dark places.