This isn't coral, nor is it underwater. It's wool, and it was crocheted by Mariane Midelburg, one of many involved in the Hyperbolic Coral Reef -- an effort to raise awareness about the receding Great Barrier Reef through crocheted sea life.

So far, the knitted coral -- collected over the past two and a half years and created by people (women, mostly) around the world -- stretches more than 3,000 feet. Once complete, the project will be assembled in a massive replica of the Great Reef itself.

The thing I find most impressive about these creations, though, is their sheer artistry. As objects, the faux corals, kelps, and anemone almost quiver with life. They're vivid, inviting, and miraculous -- just like the actual sea life they replicate.

That they were each created independently makes them all the more impressive. It's almost as if the intrinsic and awesome power of nature itself is replicated in the collective creativity seen in this international project.

Surely the final product will be a sight to behold.