Name: Here Be Monsters: Giant Squid Sighting in Americas Backyard @oceanexplorergov
Uploaded: 2024-10-16T08:17:00-05:00
Duration: 8 min 17 s
Description: Here Be Monsters: Giant Squid Sighting in Americas Backyard

Here Be Monsters: Giant Squid Sighting in Americas Backyard

oceanexplorergov 2024-10-16 | Here Be Monsters: Giant Squid Sighting in Americas Backyard

Not Your Average Lobster

oceanexplorergov 2024-05-01 | During the 2016 Hohonu Moana: Exploring Deep Waters off Hawaiʻi expedition, while exploring Castellano Seamount south of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Pacific Ocean, we encountered this small blind lobster, Homeryon asper. Named after the Greek poet Homer, this species is one of several in the family Polychelidae, found throughout the world ocean basins. While we don't encounter many of these crustaceans during our exploration, when we do, they are typically resting on the seafloor, so it was an unusual treat to get to observe this one swimming. Observations like this can help us to increase our understanding of the organisms that inhabit the deep ocean...and the better we understand, the better we can manage and protect the resources of the deep.

For more video shorts, visit: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/multimedia/video-shorts/welcome.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2016 Hohonu Moana.

Camera 3: 2024 Mapping Shakedown + High Seas Mapping

oceanexplorergov 2024-04-20 | From April 13-May 4, NOAA Ocean Exploration and partners will conduct the 2024 Mapping and Shakedown + High Seas Mapping expedition on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, transiting from California to Hawai‘i. While underway, the team will spend time calibrating, testing, assessing, and adjusting the ship’s acoustic mapping systems and associated equipment. Once all testing objectives are complete, mapping operations will focus on the collection of bathymetric, sub-bottom, and water column data within waters of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone surrounding the Hawaiian Islands. There will not be any remotely operated vehicle dives during this expedition.

For more information, visit: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/2024-expeditions/welcome.html#mappingShakedown

Camera 2: 2024 Mapping Shakedown + High Seas Mapping

oceanexplorergov 2024-04-15 | From April 13-May 4, NOAA Ocean Exploration and partners will conduct the 2024 Mapping and Shakedown + High Seas Mapping expedition on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, transiting from California to Hawai‘i. While underway, the team will spend time calibrating, testing, assessing, and adjusting the ship’s acoustic mapping systems and associated equipment. Once all testing objectives are complete, mapping operations will focus on the collection of bathymetric, sub-bottom, and water column data within waters of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone surrounding the Hawaiian Islands. There will not be any remotely operated vehicle dives during this expedition.

For more information, visit: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/2024-expeditions/welcome.html#mappingShakedown

Camera 1: 2024 Mapping Shakedown + High Seas Mapping

Camera 1 - Highlights: Seascape Alaska 3

oceanexplorergov 2024-04-15 | From July 14 - 25, NOAA Ocean Exploration and partners conducted the Seascape Alaska 3: Aleutians Remotely Operated Vehicle Exploration and Mapping expedition off the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. During the expedition, the team will work to fill gaps in our understanding of the region by conducting focused mapping and remotely operated vehicle operations in waters deeper than 200 meters (656 feet).

This video features highlights from seven of the dives completed during the expedition.

Learn more about the expedition here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/seascape-alaska/ex2304/welcome.html

Just for the Halibut!

oceanexplorergov 2024-04-10 | This halibut, which measured nearly a meter (three feet), was seen during NOAA Ocean Exploration's Seascape Alaska 5 expedition on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, while exploring off Lone Island in the Knight Island Passage of Prince William Sound.

Learn more about the expedition: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/seascape-alaska/ex2306/welcome.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Seascape Alaska.

An Octopus Nursery

oceanexplorergov 2024-03-20 | During Dive 12 of the Seascape Alaska 5 expedition while exploring Noyes Canyon, the team observed brooding behavior in the deep-sea octopus Graneledone boreopacifica, at a depth of 1,558 meters (5,112 feet), as well as a tiny juvenile octopus, (possibly Enteroctopus dofleini) later in the dive.

Learn more about the expedition: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/seascape-alaska/welcome.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Seascape Alaska.

We Are All Explorers...Even You!

oceanexplorergov 2024-02-28 | The spirit of curiosity has propelled the human desire to explore and better understand our natural world throughout time. To successfully address the modern-day challenges our ocean planet faces, contemporary ocean exploration continues to build on the knowledge of our predecessors while encompassing and empowering a broad range of perspectives and stakeholders.

Learn more about NOAA Ocean Exploration and the work we do to explore our largely unknown ocean: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/about/what-we-do/welcome.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration.

Dont Be Jelly of Big Red!

oceanexplorergov 2024-02-09 | This “big red jelly" (Tiburonia granrojo) was observed during the 900-meter (2,950-foot) transect to explore the water column on the first dive of the Seascape Alaska 3 expedition. Unlike other jellies, big red jellies use fleshy "feeding arms," visible in this video, instead of stinging tentacles to capture food. Living up to their “big red” common name, these jellies can be over one meter (three feet) in diameter.

Learn more about the expedition: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/seascape-alaska/ex2304/welcome.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Seascape Alaska

Dance Sea Cucumber, Dance!

oceanexplorergov 2023-12-20 | With the holiday season upon us, you may have heard of the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” but what about the “Dance of the Sea Cucumber”? We observed this sea cucumber slowly lift off from the seafloor and launch into a mesmerizing slow “dance” during a Seascape Alaska dive off the coast of Kodiak, Alaska.

While we most often see sea cucumbers (or holothurians) resting on the seafloor, chowing down on sediment or debris raining down from above, some sea cukes are actually masters of buoyancy, able to propel themselves briefly into the water column, perhaps to escape a predator or find a better feeding spot.

Sweet!

For more short bites from the deep, check out our “video shorts” page: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/multimedia/video-shorts/welcome.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Seascape Alaska.

Bluntnose Sixgill Shark

oceanexplorergov 2023-12-13 | This beautiful male bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) measured over 2 meters (6.5 feet) in length. It was seen while exploring off the north coast of Puerto Rico during the third Voyage to the Ridge 2022 expedition on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer.

Fun facts about these sharks:
- They only have one dorsal fin whereas most shark species have two dorsal fins
- They are believed to live up to 80 years!
- They are typically found in deeper waters (this one was spotted at a depth of approximately 600 meters/1,970 feet).

For more video shorts, visit: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/multimedia/video-shorts/welcome.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Voyage to the Ridge 2022.

Hot Stuff! Exploring a Hydrothermal Vent

oceanexplorergov 2023-11-29 | During the second Voyage to the Ridge 2022 expedition, we explored the Moytirra Vent Field, which is the only deep high-temperature hydrothermal vent known between the Azores and the Reykjanes Ridge, south of Iceland. For most of the dive, we explored extinct areas around the vent site, as little is known about the organisms that live in hydrothermally inactive sulfide habitats on the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Near the end of the dive, we had the opportunity to explore a couple of active black smoker vent chimneys.

At the active vents, water temperatures were measured to be 54°C (129°F). The vents, seen at a depth of 2,947 meters (1.83 miles), were home to small caridean shrimp that rely on chemosynthesis for food.

Marine Moment of Zen

oceanexplorergov 2023-11-15 | Your morning moment of Zen.

This stunning jellyfish (Poralia sp.) was seen at 1,054 m (3,457 ft) depth during the 2018 Gulf of Mexico expedition.

Learn more about the expedition: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1803/welcome.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Gulf of Mexico 2018.

Two Squids Are Better Than One

oceanexplorergov 2023-11-01 | The final dive of the Seascape Alaska 5 expedition took place in Prince William Sound at a depth of 562 meters (~1,844 feet). The site explored revealed rich biological diversity, including what appeared to be two squids either mating or predating. Every dive during the expedition revealed something that was new to us...but given how little of the ocean has been explored, it begs that question as to whether it really new or unusual or just something common that we just haven't had the chance to observe.

Learn more about the expedition: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/seascape-alaska/ex2306/welcome.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Seascape Alaska.

Squishy Octopus Goodness

oceanexplorergov 2023-10-18 | During Dive 09 of the 2023 Shakedown + EXPRESS West Coast Exploration expedition, at a depth of 814 meters (2,671 feet), we were treated to sightings of not one flapjack octopus (Opisthoteuthis californiana) but TWO on the seafloor.

These octopods are commonly referred to as the flapjack octopus – from this video, the name seems appropriate! In the close-up video of the octopus, you’ll see white spots running along the arms and up unto the head – while the actual function of these is unknown, it is suspected that they may gather additional light, allowing the animal to detect shadows and such using its eyes.

Learn more about the expedition: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/express/ex2301/welcome.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2023 Shakedown + EXPRESS West Coast Exploration.

Alaska: What Lies Beneath

oceanexplorergov 2023-10-04 | From July 14 - July 25, NOAA Ocean Exploration and partners conducted the third in a series of Seascape Alaska expeditions on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. Over the course of 12 days at sea, the team conducted 6 full remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dives, mapped nearly 16,000 square kilometers (6,180 square miles), and collected a variety of biological and geological samples. When combined with numerous biological and geological observations, data from the Seascape Alaska 3: Aleutians Remotely Operated Vehicle Exploration and Mapping expedition will help to establish a baseline assessment of the ocean environment, increase understanding of marine life and habitats to inform management decisions, and increase public awareness of ocean issues.

For a full summary of the expedition, visit: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/seascape-alaska/ex2304/features/summary/summary.html

Its Clear: This Squid Is Awesome

oceanexplorergov 2023-08-16 | Amazing footage of a glass squid, Taonius borealis, seen at a depth of 700 meters (2,300 feet) during the first dive of the Seascape Alaska 3 expedition. The red organ in the center of the squid is its digestive gland, flanked on either side by two white, crescent-shaped organs that are the squid’s gills. Also visible below each eye are photophores, which are light-producing organs. The eye movements shown in the video are thought to be the squid blinking. This is a fairly common squid in these waters, but the close-up imagery captured here was anything but!

Learn more about the expedition: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/seascape-alaska/ex2304/welcome.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Seascape Alaska.

Alaskas Deep Marine Life

oceanexplorergov 2023-08-09 | Dive 07 of the Seascape Alaska 3 expedition was spectacular! We were treated to a colorful array of diverse marine life, notably corals and sponges that served as "ecosystem engineers," forming habitat for other organisms. The mound feature explored during the dive was indeed a hotspot for biodiversity.

Learn more about the expedition here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/seascape-alaska/ex2304/welcome.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Seascape Alaska.

Exploration of Deep Waters of Glacier Bay National Park

oceanexplorergov 2023-07-12 | May - September 2023, NOAA Ocean Exploration is conducting a series of expeditions to map and explore deep waters off Alaska. We're still waiting to get underway for our first expedition that will include remotely operated vehicle dives (deep an eye out for some (good) news about that)...while you wait, here's video from a 2016 expedition to explore waters within Glacier Bay National Park, to get you pumped and ready for what we might see (hopefully soon)!

For more from the 2016 expedition, visit: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/16glacierbay/logs/photolog/photolog.html

For more on 2023 Seascape Alaska efforts, visit: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/seascape-alaska/welcome.html

Video courtesy of the Deepwater Exploration of Glacier Bay National Park expedition and UCONN-NURTEC.

Hagfish

oceanexplorergov 2023-06-14 | This hagfish was observed at a depth of 970 meters (3,182 feet) during the ninth dive of the 2023 Shakedown + EXPRESS West Coast Exploration expedition. The holes running along the side of the hagfish are where it produces mucus as a protection against predators. Hagfish have been known to produce as much as six gallons of mucus!

Learn more about the expedition: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/express/ex2301/welcome.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2023 Shakedown + EXPRESS West Coast Exploration.

Seafloor Mapping: The Foundation for Ocean Exploration

oceanexplorergov 2023-05-17 | Despite its importance, the majority of our ocean is largely unknown. Through exploration, we’re learning more about its biological, chemical, physical, geological, and archaeological aspects every day. But before we can truly explore, we must map.

Learn more about seafloor mapping here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/edu/themes/seafloor-mapping/welcome.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration.

Source: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/video_playlist/foundation-exploration-mapping.html

Octopus Getaway

oceanexplorergov 2023-05-03 | At a depth of 2,395 meters (1.5 miles), we had our second Graneledone boreopacifica octopus sighting of the 2023 Shakedown + EXPRESS West Coast Exploration expedition, also during Dive 04. Unlike the earlier encounter, where the octopus was observed ambling across the seafloor, this octopus swam up into the water column, making a quick getaway from the remotely operated vehicle.

Check out more octopus sightings from the expedition: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/express/ex2301/features/eight-octopus/eight-octopus.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2023 Shakedown + EXPRESS West Coast Exploration.

The Armored Searobin and the Brittle Star

oceanexplorergov 2023-04-05 | During the Océano Profundo 2015: Exploring Puerto Rico’s Seamounts, Trenches, and Troughs expedition, while exploring the top of a Late Oligocene to Pilocene platform carbonate sequence and traversed a relatively minor fault scarp. This fault is the easterly extension of an approximately 100-kilometer-long fault system that forms the northern wall of the rift between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, when witnessed an unusual encounter.

Seeing two deep-sea animals interacting with each other is rare. What is particularly rare is when they behave the opposite of how we expect them to. As we approached this armored searobin, a brittle star climbed on top of it. We watched to see if the fish would try to eat the brittle star, but as it turns out, it just wanted to dislodge the extra baggage. The brittle star then proceeded to climb on top of the sea robin two more times...persistent little guy!

Learn more about the expedition: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1502/welcome.html

NOAA Ocean Exploration, Exploring Puerto Rico’s Seamounts, Trenches, and Troughs.

Arrowhead Dogfish: 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration

oceanexplorergov 2023-03-22 | Seemingly unbothered by our presence, this arrowhead dogfish (Deania profundorum) was seen at a depth of 830 meters (2,723 feet) while exploring off the coast of Florida in the Stetson-Miami Terrace Deepwater Coral Habitat of Particular Concern (HAPC) in the Blake Plateau region during the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration.

Learn more about the expedition here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1907/welcome.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration.

NOAA Ocean Exploration: 2022 Year in Review

oceanexplorergov 2023-03-08 | NOAA Ocean Exploration activities, partnerships, outreach events, and discoveries in 2022 all hold their own stories. These stories introduce us to wondrous life forms and extraordinary landscapes, and they help us better understand our past and foretell our possible future. It’s through these shared experiences that we connect people to the ocean, where there’s always something happening, new stories to tell.

Check out our full annual report for a look back at some of our stories from 2022: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/about/annual-reports/annual-report22/annual-report-2022.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration.

Isopod With Crazy-Long Antennae

oceanexplorergov 2023-02-22 | More than 5,830 meters (3.6 miles) below the surface of the ocean, deep within the Mariana Trench, we spotted this isopod. Check out the span on those front antennae — more than 10 centimeters (4 inches)!

What an amazing planet we live on!

Seen during the 2016 Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1605/welcome.html

Access more video "shorts" here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/multimedia/video-shorts/welcome.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2016 Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas.

Chemosynthetic Life

oceanexplorergov 2023-02-13 | Deep-ocean chemosynthetic animals that use energy released by inorganic chemical reactions to produce food were not discovered until 1977.

Chemosynthesis occurs when bacteria and other organisms use chemical energy from sulfides, methane, and other inorganic compounds to produce food. These bacteria form the basis of the food chain for life at places on the seafloor where photosynthesis is not possible, such as hydrothermal vents and cold seeps.

The discovery of chemosynthetic life in the deep ocean, made off the coast of South America a mere 45 years ago, changed our understanding of the requirements for life. Prior to this, it was thought that all life revolved around sunlight, whereby plants use energy from the sun to make food via photosynthesis. Now we know that, together, photosynthesis and chemosynthesis fuel all life on Earth.

Learn more here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/facts/photochemo.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Gulf of Mexico 2017.

Squad of Squid

oceanexplorergov 2023-01-25 | We encountered this large school (or shoal or squad, depending on your preference) of squid in the genus Illex while exploring Pourtalès Terrace, about 30 miles south of the Florida Keys. This was one of many such schools we encountered during the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration dive. Mesmerizing, isn't it?

Learn more about the expedition here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1907/welcome.html

Access more video "shorts" here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/multimedia/video-shorts/welcome.html

NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration .

Stingray: Voyage to the Ridge 2022

oceanexplorergov 2023-01-11 | This graceful stingray (Dasyatis sp.) was seen swimming just above the seafloor southwest of St. Croix at a depth of 410 meters (1,345 feet) during the third Voyage to the Ridge 2022 expedition.

Learn more about the expedition: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/22voyage-to-the-ridge/welcome.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Voyage to the Ridge 2022.

Ribbon Worm: 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones

oceanexplorergov 2022-12-14 | This ribbon worm was seen swimming in the water column at a depth of 2,330 meters (1.45 miles) during the fourth dive of the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition. Scientists were surprised to see it so far off the seafloor.

Imagine this video set to music! Question is...what music, though?

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones: New England and Corner Rise Seamounts.

Learn more about the expedition here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex2104/welcome.html

Azorian Splendor: July 25, 2022

oceanexplorergov 2022-11-29 | The site for Dive 06 of the second Voyage to the Ridge 2022 expedition, located along the upper slopes of a Mid-Atlantic Ridge parallel normal fault, provided ideal conditions needed to support beautiful, diverse, and dense coral and sponge communities.

To learn more about the expedition, visit: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/22voyage-to-the-ridge/welcome.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Voyage to the Ridge 2022.

Moytirra Vent Field: July 21, 2022

oceanexplorergov 2022-11-29 | During Dive 02 of the second Voyage to the Ridge 2022 expedition, we explored the Moytirra Vent Field. Near the end of the dive, we encountered this active black smoker hydrothermal chimney that was covered with small limpets and shrimp.

Learn more about the expedition here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/22voyage-to-the-ridge/welcome.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Voyage to the Ridge 2022.

The Hole Story: Voyage to the Ridge 2022

oceanexplorergov 2022-11-16 | During Dive 04 of the second Voyage to the Ridge 2022 expedition, we observed several sublinear sets of holes in the sediment on the seafloor at a depth of approximately 2,540 meters (1.6 miles). We saw the holes again during Dive 09 a total of four times at depths ranging from approximately 1,440 to 1,500 meters (4,724 to 4,921 feet).

During Dive 09, the remotely operated vehicle pilots used the suction sampler to collect sediment from fresher holes. A look at the sediment upon recovery revealed no clues as to what formed the holes. A water sample was also collected during the dive for later processing for environmental DNA (eDNA), to learn more about what may be living in or around the holes.

Read more about these mysterious holes here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/news/oer-updates/2022/mysterious-holes-seafloor/mysterious-holes-seafloor.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Voyage to the Ridge 2022.

Learn more about the expedition here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/22voyage-to-the-ridge/welcome.html

Nightmares For Days: The Blind Lobster

oceanexplorergov 2022-10-12 | It’s October. The days are getting shorter and cooler, leaves are changing colors and starting to fall, a new fiscal year has begun for the federal government, and Halloween is just around the corner. To celebrate this haunting holiday, we’ve gathered some of our favorite spooktacular finds from the deep ocean.

Including in our countdown is this giant blind lobster. Seen at a depth of nearly 4,000 meters (2.5 miles) guarding a series of large burrows with its claws poised for action during the Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas 2016 expedition, this critter could indeed provide nightmares for days!

[Note that since the animal didn't come out of the burrow, it's hard to get an accurate size, but we did determine that the head was nearly 10 centimeters (~4 inches) across.]

Check out our full 31 Dive of Halloween here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/news/exploration-extras/22-halloween/welcome.html

[Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration.]

Oreo (aka, False Boarfish): Voyage to the Ridge 2022

oceanexplorergov 2022-09-14 | We got a very, very close look at this False Boarfish at 1,660 meters (5,446 feet) depth during Dive 06 of the second Voyage to the Ridge 2022 expedition, providing a good reminder of the amazing imaging capabilities on remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Deep Discoverer (and the steady hand of the ROV pilots)!

These fish are part of a group of deep-sea fishes that belong to the family Oreostomatidae, commonly referred to as the “oreos.” These fish are common in the North Atlantic and were also frequently observed during the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones: New England and Corner Rise Seamounts. They are known to be “nippers and croppers” of small invertebrates and tend to maneuver and hover close to steep rock faces.

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Voyage to the Ridge 2022.

Learn more about the expedition here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/22voyage-to-the-ridge/welcome.html

Whiplash Squid in a Marine Snowstorm!

oceanexplorergov 2022-06-29 | Marine snow is mostly biological debris that originates from the top layers of the ocean and drifts to the seafloor, providing a primary source of energy for animals in the deep ocean.

As food is scarce in the dark depths of the ocean, material drifting down from the waters above is an important component in the ocean food web. Many animals in the deep ocean filter marine snow from the water or scavenge it from the seabed as their main source of food. Characterizing the quality and supply of this food helps us understand the distribution, biodiversity, and function of deep-ocean communities.

In this video, marine snow falls around a beautiful red squid seen off the New England coast.

For more facts about the deep ocean, check out our page to celebrate National Ocean Month: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/news/exploration-extras/22-national-ocean-month/welcome.html

Life in the Water Column

oceanexplorergov 2022-04-13 | The water column is the largest and least explored habitat on Earth, encompassing 95% or more of our planet's livable space. Trillions of organisms reside in the water column, and where light is scarce, they have adapted in incredible ways. Using tools like acoustics, scientists can understand where organisms concentrate in the water column. This concentration of life, known as the deep scattering layer, represents the largest migration on Earth — diel vertical migration. Every day, billions and billions of organisms, mostly zooplankton (e.g., small fish, crustaceans, and jellies), move up into shallow water at night and return to the dark, deep waters when the sun rises. These organisms are important as both predators and prey, and they play an important role in the carbon cycle. Science continues to evolve to help us better understand these organisms and their contributions to life on Earth.

Learn more about why we explore the water column: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/facts/water-column.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Windows to the Deep 2021.

The Lost Whaler: NOAA & Partners Discover Wreck of 207-Year-Old Whaling Ship

oceanexplorergov 2022-03-23 | NOAA and partners today announced the discovery of the wreck of a 207-year-old whaling ship, called Industry, found on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. The remains of the 64-foot long, two-masted wooden brig opens a window into a little known chapter of American history when descendants of African slaves and Native Americans served as essential crew in one of the nation’s oldest industries.

During Dive 02 of NOAA Ocean Exploration’s 2022 ROV and Mapping Shakedown on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, scientists on ship and shore explored the wreck of what they believed to be the historic 19th century whaler. Scientists from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and SEARCH Inc. provided coordinates and other information and narrated the dive from shore, live via telepresence.

Artifacts documented during the dive include tryworks, an iron stove with two kettles that was used to render whale blubber into oil; two visible anchors; and bottles. Only one whaler is known to have been lost in the Gulf of Mexico between the post-American revolutionary period and the end of the 19th century. At the time of the dive, we didn’t know if this and the wreck were one and the same, but the data collected and further research have confirmed that this is very likely the remains of the brig Industry.

Learn more: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/news/oer-updates/2022/industry.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2022 ROV and Mapping Shakedown.

Basket Star: INDEX 2010

oceanexplorergov 2022-02-09 | Behold, the mighty basket star! Seen while exploring Indonesian waters in 2010, the intricate network of bifurcating arms of this basket star also housed several large shrimp.

Video courtesy of courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, INDEX-SATAL 2010.

To view more media from the INDEX 2010: “Indonesia-USA Deep-Sea Exploration of the Sangihe Talaud Region” expedition, visit: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/photolog/photolog.html

Swimming Brittle Star: Windows to the Deep 2018

oceanexplorergov 2022-01-12 | We often encounter brittle stars when exploring, but usually we see them buried in sediment or entwined in coral branches. So it was an exciting surprise to see this one swimming along in the water column during a Windows to the Deep 2018 dive! Look at it go!

Learn more about the brittle star: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1806/dailyupdates/june14/media/brittlestar-log.html

Learn more about the expedition: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1806/welcome.html

Video courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Windows to the Deep 2018.

Bigfin Squid

oceanexplorergov 2021-12-02 | It’s not every dive that deep-sea explorers encounter a bigfin squid (Magnapinna sp.). It’s actually pretty unusual; roughly a dozen sightings have been confirmed worldwide. So, when we captured an adult bigfin squid on camera during Dive 10 of Windows to the Deep 2021 off the West Florida Escarpment in the Gulf of Mexico, it was quite an exciting moment.

Learn more about the discovery here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex2107/features/bigfin-squid/bigfin-squid.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Windows to the Deep 2021.

Red Jellyfish

oceanexplorergov 2021-09-08 | Seen during the 700-meter (2,297-foot) water column exploration tract of Dive 20 of the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition, this beautiful red jellyfish in the genus Poralia may be an undescribed species.

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones: New England and Corner Rise Seamounts.

Learn more about the expedition: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex2104/welcome.html

Source: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex2104/gallery/welcome.html#cbpi=/okeanos/explorations/ex2104/gallery/media/redjelly.inc

Deep-Sea Dining: July 14, 2021

oceanexplorergov 2021-08-11 | Hungry for more 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones content? So is this critter that was found 1,219 meters (4,000 feet) below the ocean's surface! This sea star was spotted using its five arms to tightly wrap around a stalk of whip coral during the expedition to explore the New England and Corner Rise seamounts.

These sea stars are known as “corallivores,” or coral predators, and they feed on polyps by lowering their stomachs onto a coral stalk and slowly consuming the coral tissue in a process that can take anywhere from a few weeks to multiple years!
.
You can learn more about this hungry sea star here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex2104/features/hungryseastar/seastar.html

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones: New England and Corner Rise Seamounts.

Learn more about the expedition here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex2104/welcome.html

Whiplash Squid: September 3, 2019

oceanexplorergov 2021-06-09 | Magnificent, magical, marvelous. Whatever word you choose to alliterate your Monday with, this whiplash squid is pretty...mesmerizing.

Seen while exploring Kinlan Canyon, off the coast of Rhode Island, at 1,030 meters (3,380 feet) depth.

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Deep Connections 2019.

Learn more about the expedition here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1905/welcome.html

[Source: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/multimedia/video-shorts/ex1905-whiplash-squid.html]

Dumbo Octopus: 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration

oceanexplorergov 2021-05-12 | This dumbo octopus was seen during the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration, while exploring about 40 miles southeast of Key West, FL, where the current was rather strong…

Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration.

Learn more about the expedition here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1907/welcome.html

[Source: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/multimedia/video-shorts/ex1907-dumbo1.html]

Sea Cucumber(s): Océano Profundo 2018

oceanexplorergov 2021-04-14 | A tale of two cukes — sea cukes, that is! One sea cucumber gracefully swims through the water column. The other? Just chilling on the seafloor. Seen during the Océano Profundo 2018: Exploring Deep-sea Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands expedition.

NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Gulf of Mexico 2018.

Learn more about the expedition: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1811/welcome.html

[Source: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/multimedia/video-shorts/ex1803-twocukes.html]

Armored Searobin: 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration

oceanexplorergov 2021-03-10 | For today's daily dose of deep-sea weird, meet the armored searobin! These unusual fish use modified fins to move across the seafloor and branched "whiskers" in front of their mouths to help them sense food.

This one was seen at 600 meters (1,970 feet) depth during a dive to explore an area south of the Florida Keys in the Straits of Florida.

For additional short videos, visit our "Social Media Video Shorts" page: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/multimedia/video-shorts/welcome.html.

Video courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration.

Learn more about the expedition: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1907/welcome.html.

Possible Isopod: 2016 Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas

oceanexplorergov 2021-02-10 | Deep-sea alien life...right here on Earth.

This isopod, unknown to our science team, was seen while exploring a site dubbed (appropriately!) Twin Peaks in the Mariana region at 4,810 meters (3 miles) depth.

So many deep (sci-fi) mysteries left to unlock in our ocean.

Video courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2016 Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas.

Learn more about the expedition here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1605/welcome.html

Fish of the Deep: Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific MPAs

oceanexplorergov 2021-01-20 | An overview of some of the fish seen on the 19 dives conducted during the 2017 Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific Marine Protected Areas expedition, while exploring the Phoenix Islands Protected Area and the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument at depths ranging from 300 meters (985 feet) down to nearly 6,000 meters (3.7 miles). Documenting fish at these varying depths can provide scientists with insights into the health and viability of an ecosystem.

Video courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific MPAs.

Learn more about the expedition: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1703/welcome.html

[Source: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1703/logs/photolog/welcome.html#cbpi=/okeanos/explorations/ex1703/dailyupdates/media/video/fish_deep/fish_deep.html]

Denizens of the Arctic Deep: Hidden Ocean 2016: Chukchi Borderlands

oceanexplorergov 2020-12-09 | The cold waters of the Arctic's Chukchi Borderlands are full of life, from sea angels (Clione) dancing in the water column to sea spiders crawling along the bottom. Meet some of these inhabitants the Global Explorer remotely operated vehicle imaged during the Hidden Ocean 2016: Chukchi Borderlands expedition.

This expedition, which took place from July 2 – August 10, 2016, involved an international and multi-disciplinary team of scientists, media personnel, and educators sailing to the Chukchi Borderlands onboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy. They applied an ecosystem perspective to investigate microbial communities in sea ice, water, and seafloor environments; water column (planktonic) organisms; and invertebrate and fish seafloor (benthic) communities and conducted observations of marine mammals and seabirds.

Video courtesy of The Hidden Ocean 2016: Chukchi Borderlands.

Learn more: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/16arctic/welcome.html