The Sunlight Zone (0-660 feet)
The ocean is divided into layers called ZONES, just like a layer cake! The top layer is the Sunlight Zone, where most ocean life lives.
Sunlight shines through this warm, bright layer, allowing plants and algae to grow. These plants are food for small fish, which are food for bigger fish, which are food for sharks and dolphins. It is one big food chain!
The Sunlight Zone is home to coral reefs — underwater cities bursting with color! Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor but support 25% of all ocean species. That is like a city the size of one block having a quarter of the world's population!
Sea turtles, dolphins, jellyfish, tuna, and most fish you know live here. Even though this zone is only the top 2% of the ocean, it contains the most life.