Effective management of marine resources begins with knowing the types, amounts, and spatial distribution of resources. Rigorously ground-truthed benthic habitat mapping using remote sensing data are interpreted into seafloor habitats, providing valuable information for management. In general, benthic habitats have been mapped in many coral reef ecosystems using a variety of techniques and data types, including the interpretation of aerial photography, satellite imagery, bathymetric data, in situ visual imaging, or a combination of these . Cryptic coral reef habitats are reefs that cannot be identified using single habitat mapping methods. These reefs are beyond the reach of satellite or remote sensing equipment and are often missed by these types of data collection efforts. This story map illustrates the process that could be used to identify potential cryptic reef locations in the Gulf of Mexico. Check the story map from here.