Push cores evaporating methane gas in the form of bubbles. Credit: UW/NSF/OOI/WHOI; J2-1634; V24.

Mosquito Deployment. Credit: UW/NSF/OOI/WHOI; J2-1633; V24.

Students, engineers, and scientists gathered on the starboard side of the Atlantis to watch a glorious sunset on the last full day of VISIONS'24 Leg 2. Credit: M. Vardaro, University of Washington, V24.

Some of the crabs at Southern Hydrate Ridge have anemones growing on their backs, as protection or camouflage or just a fashion statement. This one, sporting a symmetrical arrangement, was dubbed Princess Leia by the crew in the ROV control van. Credit: M. Vardaro, University of Washington, V24.

One of the fish we see a lot at Southern Hydrate Ridge is the Roughtail Skate, frequently resting on the seafloor or gliding past our cameras. Credit: M. Vardaro, University of Washington, V24.

A Giant Pacific Octopus we encountered while exploring Southern Hydrate Ridge. Credit: M. Vardaro, University of Washington, V24.

Me (Catherine Rasgaitis) holding a core sample, Credit: L. Couchon, University of Washington; V24.

Sunset aboard the Atlantis, Credit: C. Rasgaitis, University of Washington; V24.

Engine room, Credit: C. Rasgaitis, University of Washington; V24.

Night time aboard the Atlantis, Credit: C. Rasgaitis, University of Washington; V24.

Catherine Rasgaitis and Zariel Zamudio working on uncabled sample recovery, Credit: A. Paley, University of Washington; V24.

Microbial mats photo I (Catherine Rasgaitis) took during my shift, Jason dive J2-1632. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; V24.

Disassembling an OSMOI. Credit: J. Almokharrak, University of Washington; V24.

Soft coral near the cable. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, J2-1628; V24.

Picture of the comically large syringe. Credit: Z. Zamudio, University of Washington; V24.

Picture of osmosis sampling instrument CAT. Credit: Z. Zamudio, University of Washington; V24.

Jason going over the side of the boat for a dive. Credit: Z. Zamudio, University of Washington; V24.

Picture of the super blue moon above a cloudy night sky. Credit: Z. Zamudio, University of Washington; V24.

Another day having a blast in Jason control van. Credit: R. An, University of Washington, V24

Full moon above a mooring. Credit: M. Elend, University of Washington; V24

Jason lunching for another dive. Credit M. Elend, University of Washington; V24.

Multibeam sonar image showing a bubble plume rising from the seafloor near the Southern Hydrate Ridge site. Credit: N. Wharton, University of Washington; V24.

Flock of black-footed albatross spotted at the Oregon Offshore site. Credit: N. Wharton, University of Washington; V24.

VISIONS’24 graduate student Anna Hildebrand releases an Expendable BathyThermograph (XBT) probe into the water. Credit: N. Wharton, University of Washington; V24.

Rolling hills of an oasis seldom get to witness; at 769 meters deep there lies the methane seeps of Southern Hydrate Ridge. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1634; V24.

Leo Couchon proudly holds up their catch while unloading equipment from ROV Jason. Credit: E. Duarte, University of California San Diego, V24

Leo Couchon seen left and Anna Hildebrand seen right very excitedly hold up a core they are preparing with a particularly stunning display bacterial mat of Sulfide Oxidizing Bacteria (SOB). Credit: N. Wharton, University of Washington, V24