Conservation experts in Brazil have confirmed that they have discovered a new coral reef off the coast which is "teeming with life".
Backpackers and gap year travellers in the country with an interest in diving may well be drawn to the new finding, which is set to double the size of the Abrolhos Bank reef system.
The reef is located just nine miles off the south Atlantic coast and is thought to contain anything up to 30 times the density of marine life found closer to the surface.
Commenting on the discovery, Rodrigo de Moura, a marine specialist at Conservation International Brazil, explained that unearthing a reef of such magnitude was a particularly rare occurrence.
He said: "It is very exciting and highly unusual to discover a reef structure this large and harbouring such an abundance of fish."
There was, however, a note of caution from the organisation's director of marine programmes in the region Guilherme Dulta, who warned that the reef could be at environmental risk as only a small section is protected.
And with the reef rumoured to exist at depths between 60ft and 220ft, people looking to explore such colourful feats of nature should ensure they have a comprehensive travel insurance plan before diving.
