What's this thingamajobber coming out of the coral?

Photo taken at Sombrero Reef in the FL Keys.

Looks more like it's just lying on top of the coral and isn't part of the coral at all. Unidentifiable debris would be my guess.

Looks more like it's just lying on top of the coral and isn't part of the coral at all. Unidentifiable debris would be my guess.

Close up view. It looks to me like it's coming out of the polyp.

Wharever it is, the coral polyp is chowing down on it. If you had stayed, it might have burped and smoked a cigarette when it was done. YUM!!

I agree with Leslie, doesn't (even in the close up) look like it is coming out or going into the coral, looks like it is just laying on top.

My thoughts originally were algae or turtle grass laying on top.

I disagree, the polyp looks like it is eating whatever it is.

I got some poor quality shots of a similar meal

Almost gone

It looks like one of the critters I refer to as a "bloodworm"....whatever that is..... Was this shot at night? I often shine my lights on such polyps, at night, to feed the polyps with the critters bumping into the lit up coral.