A recently formed 'beehive' formation of fine-grained sulfide minerals vents atop Inferno. An older chimney is in the background. Clusters of palm worms and tubeworms wave in diffuse flow issuing from the porous chimney walls. UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1650; V24.

A large colony of scale worms thrives on a barren landscape of sulfide minerals on the walls of Inferno bounded by unhealthy tubeworms (rigt) and protist covered worms (left). UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1650; V24.

A large sea cucumber traverses across a slab of basaltic rock in the ASHES hydrothermal field. UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1650; V24.

Bacteria covered sheaths molted from scale worms, scale worms, palmworms, tubeworms and limpets colonize the outter walls of Inferno. UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1650; V24.

Two parasitic chimlets on the side of Mushroom are covered by filamentous bacteria and limpets (background) and sulfide worms (foreground). UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1650; V24.

Bacteria cover a rubble pile of basalt slabs in the ASHES hydrothermal field. The bacteria is joined by abundant, small brown anemones. UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1650; V24.

A spider crab visits the base of Phoenix in the ASHES hydrothermal field. If you look closely. there are three small sea spiders by its outer claws in the foreground. UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1650; V24.

Beautiful blue ciliates colonize the outer chimney walls of Inferno. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1650; V24.

A beautiful tubeworm bush grows behind a small parasitic black smoker at the Phoenix edifice. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1650; V24.

Spider crab at Phoenix vent during dive J2-1650. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1650; V24.

Inside the Jason control van for dive J2-1647. Credit: P. McKay; University of Washington; V24.

My morning cup of coffee that was not spilled. Credit: P. McKay, University of Washington; V24.

Screengrab of the small orange plug compared to Jason’s claw. Credit: Paige McKay, University of Washington, V24.

Screengrab of a rattail fish spotted on my watch this morning. Credit: Morrigan Havely, University of Washington, V24.

Screenshot of palm tube worms and bacterial mat at hydrothermal site “Tiny Towers.” Credit: Morrigan Havely, University of Washington, V24.

Party light inside Jason control van. Credit: Morrigan Havely, University of Washington, V24.

Screenshot of tube worms and a possible scale worm nursery. Credit: Morrigan Havely, University of Washington, V24.

RAS sampler post Jason dive 1651. Credit: J. Wiener, University of Washington; V24.

Tube worms thriving at International District. Credit: J. Wiener, University of Washington; V24.

Spider crab posing on some purple protists. Credit: J. Wiener, University of Washington; V24.

Screen grab from Jason van, summit of Inferno. Credit: J. Teal, Peninsula College, V24.

Screen grab from Jason van, Rattail. Credit: J. Teal, Peninsula College, V24.

Screen grab from Jason van, spider crab in ASHES,. Credit: J. Teal, Peninsula College, V24.

A frozen lava whirlpool as seen from the Jason van, which also shows up very nicely on the sonar. Credit: D. Kelley, University of Washington, V24.

Sonar image of a lava whirlpool frozen in time at Central Caldera, Axial Seamount. Credit: D. Kelley, University of Washington, V24.

The OOI still camera captured a shot of Jason working on the nearby RAS/PPS at Tiny Towers in International District vent field. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1651, V24

OOI still camera image of the RAS/PPS and vent cap at Tiny Towers in International District vent field. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1651, V24