Image Archive

Babysitter snails (Neptunea) lay their eggs in spiral columns that form a habitat for other animals, like these shrimp. This field of egg cases are on top of a carbonate outcrop called Pinnacle which is to the west of Southern Hydrate Ridge. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF, Dive R2228, V22.

A unique community of invertebrates gathered around the anchor of the Slope Base profiler mooring in 2900 meters (~9500 feet) of water, including a Bathydoris nudibranch, flytrap anemones, galatheid crabs, and sea cucumbers. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2258, V22

A rosy Tritonia nudibranch crawling over the seafloor next to a denuded bubblegum coral at Pinnacle, near Southern Hydrate Ridge. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF, Dive R2228, V22.

Once again the Smokey Caverns (or Taverns as it is also known) has changed remarkably since we visited it with Jason last year. The area is significantly more rugged, marked by large hummocks. An eelpout, sole, clams and orange rock fish dot the landscape. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, V18.