A “virtual dive” into the colourful world of coral reefs is one of the highlights of a new exhibition opening at London’s History Museum.

Natural History Museum handout photo of a box of confiscated coral as a "virtual dive" into the colourful world of coral reefs is one of the highlights of a new exhibition opening at London's History Museum.

Natural History Museum handout photo of a box of confiscated coral as a “virtual dive” into the colourful world of coral reefs is one of the highlights of a new exhibition opening at London’s History Museum. Image by NHM Image Resources/PA Wire

More than 250 specimens from the museum’s coral, fish and marine invertebrate collection will be on display including six corals collected by Charles Darwin during his voyage on HMS Beagle from 1831 to 1836.

The exhibition, running from March 27, also features a four tonne aquarium containing 100 fish and 26 coral species.

Natural History Museum handout photo of a red cushion sea star as a "virtual dive" into the colourful world of coral reefs is one of the highlights of a new exhibition opening at London's History Museum.

Natural History Museum handout photo of a red cushion sea star as a “virtual dive” into the colourful world of coral reefs is one of the highlights of a new exhibition opening at London’s History Museum. Image by Kevin Webb/NHM Image Resources/PA Wire

Dr Ken Johnson, coral reefs researcher at the Natural History Museum, said: “We admire the beauty of coral reefs, but we often overlook just how vital they for the everyday lives of hundreds of millions of people around the world.

“Not only are they home to a diverse range of life, but reefs provide valuable food, income and coastal protection.”

Museum director Sir Michael Dixon said: “Coral reefs and the creatures that inhabit them are being studied every day here at the museum. The specimens and scientific research in this exhibition help us understand and predict the effect of human impact and climate change on our oceans, one of the biggest challenges facing our natural world today.”

Other highlights include the one metre-wide giant turbinaria coral, home to thousands of marine creatures, and the largest living mollusc, the giant clam.

The virtual dive from Liquid Galaxy Google Earth will guide visitors along the Great Barrier Reef, Tubbahata Reef (Philippines), Hourglass Reef (Bermuda) and Komodo Island reef (Indonesia) through a chamber of circular screens.

(Press Association)