Culture-independent 16S rDNA-DGGE fingerprinting and phylogenetic analysis were used to reveal the community structure and diversity of the predominant bacteria associated with the four sponges Stelletta tenui, Halichrondria, Dysidea avara, and Craniella australiensis from the South China Sea for the first time. Sponge total community DNA extracted with a direct grinding disruption based method was used successfully after series dilution for 16S rDNA PCR amplification, which simplifies the current procedure and results in good DGGE banding profiles. 16S rDNA-V3 fragments from 42 individual DGGE bands were sequenced and the detailed corresponding bacteria were found in sponges for the fist time based on BLAST results. The sponge-associated bacteria are sponge host-specific because each of the tested four sponges from the same geographical location has different predominant bacterial diversity. Proteobacteria, e.g. a, h and g subdivisions, make up the majority of the predominant bacteria in sponges and are perhaps in close symbiotic relationship with sponges. Though similar bacteria with close phylogenetic relationships were found among different sponges, the sponge-associated predominant bacterial community structures differ. Sponge C. australiensis has the greatest bacterial diversity, with the four bacteria phyla Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria, followed by the sponge D. avara with the two phyla Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, and the sponges S. tenui and Halichrondria with the phylum Proteobacteria. DGGE fingerprint-based analysis should ideally be integrated with band cloning and sequencing, phylogenetic analysis and molecular techniques to obtain precise results in terms of the microbial community and diversity.