Giant sponge showing how it filters water with the use of dye, Dominica, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

Giant sponge showing how it filters water with the use of dye, Dominica, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

Giant sponge showing how it filters water with the use of dye, Dominica, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

Giant barrel sponge (Xestosongia muta), and sunburst, St. Lucia, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

Giant sponge showing how it filters water with the use of dye, Dominica, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

Giant barrel sponge, Dominica, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

Giant barrel sponge (Xestosongia muta), St. Lucia, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

Coral reef and sponges, Belize.

Crinoids cling to a large sponge on a healthy coral reef near the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. This beautiful, tropical region is home to an incredible variety of marine life.

Barrel sponge (Xestospongia muta), large barrel sponge in spur and groove reef, Little Cayman Island, Cayman Islands, Caribbean

Barrel sponge (Xestospongia muta), large barrel sponge in spur and groove reef, Little Cayman Island, Cayman Islands, Caribbean

Barrel sponge (Xestospongia muta), large barrel sponge in spur and groove reef, Little Cayman Island, Cayman Islands, Caribbean

Female diver with a lamp looking at a Barrel Sponge (Xestospongia muta) in a multi-coloured coral reef with various sponges and corals, Hopkins, Dangria, Belize, Central America, Caribbean

Diver looking at Giant Barrel Sponge (Xestospongia muta) in coral reef, Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Central America

Squirrelfish (Holocentrus adscensionsis) finds shelter near a large Barrel sponge.