LONDON — As a National Geographic expedition explored the waters around the Solomon Islands on Thursday, its members spotted something underwater that looked like a shipwreck. Intrigued, they sent a diver to investigate.

The diver returned to the surface with extraordinary news.

The object was not a wreck but a massive coral – soon confirmed as the largest coral in the world. This gigantic coral, visible from space and approximately 300 years old, preserves an invaluable historical testimony to the ocean conditions of past centuries.

“Just when we think there is nothing more to discover on planet Earth, we find a massive coral made up of almost a billion tiny polyps, pulsing with life and color,” said Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence and founder of Pristine Seas. the expedition that made the chance discovery.

The coral is three times larger than the previous record holder, known as “Big Momma” and located in American Samoa. While “Big Momma” is as big as a giraffe, the new coral is the size of a blue whale.

The Solomon Islands, a group of hundreds of islands in the South Pacific and fittingly bordered by the Coral Sea, are home to the second highest coral diversity on the planet, with more than 490 known species.

“What many people don’t realize is that corals, although they appear as simple rocks, are actually living creatures that build these incredible habitats,” said Ronnie Posala, fisheries manager at the ministry. of Fisheries and Marine Resources of the Solomon Islands.

He added that corals provide a vital defense system against the effects of climate change, saying they “act as the first line of defense for coastal communities, protecting against powerful waves and storms.”

Corals and coral reefs are under threat due to global warming, which is leading to coral bleaching. Coral reefs at 29 World Heritage sites would cease to exist by the end of this century if man-made processes continue to emit current levels of greenhouse gases, according to UNESCO.

“Despite its remote location, this coral is not safe from global warming and other human threats,” Sala said.

But the newly discovered coral also brings optimism, according to National Geographic expedition coral specialist Eric Brown.

“While nearby shallow reefs have been degraded due to warming seas,” Brown said, “witnessing this large oasis of healthy coral in slightly deeper waters is a beacon of hope. “