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So-called “toadstool” or “mushroom” leather corals (Sarcophyton glaucum) are remarkably hardy, solitary stalks of soft coral commonly found in the Red Sea. Housing 40% of the known 180 species of soft coral, the Red Sea reefs are famous for their ability to adapt to rising temperatures, having been known to survive a mighty 7°C rise in already particularly warm waters. This exposure to heat gives corals a fighting chance to keep pace with a rapidly changing climate, breeding a generation of genetically-diverse, thermo-resistant corals. These resilient Red Sea reefs are a stark anomaly in an ocean in crisis, with delicate coral ecosystems struggling to stay healthy, which is why supporting efforts to protect them is more important than ever.