A blue shark investigated the ROV (or the fish attracted by the lights) during the deep profiler refurb dives at the Oregon Offshore (600 m) site. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1550; V23.

We saw an assemblage of scale worms, palm worms, and blue colonial ciliates surrounding the chimneys at the "Diva" vent in the International District vent field. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1546, V23.

This giant rattail was intrigued by Jason while the ROV was taking temperature readings at the "Diva" vent in the International District vent field. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1546, V23.

An impressionist-style portrait of a giant rattail obscured by the high-temperature vent fluid the Jason temperature probe is measuring at Diva vent in the International District vent field. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1546, V23.

We saw this unusual orange-colored scale worm at the "Diva" vent while deploying a temperature and resistivity probe in a nearby chimney. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1546, V23.

A giant rattail (over a meter long!) at the International District 2 junction box site. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1544, V23.

A giant rattail came to visit the International District 2 junction box site. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1544, V23.

Mystery! We encountered these green orbs on a few 2023 dives, mostly at 200 - 500 m depths, off the OR coast and at Axial Seamount. At first we thought they might be clogged larvacean houses, but they're all perfectly circular. Credit: A. Simmen, University of Washington.

A swordfish buzzed the ROV during deployment of dive J2-1545 at International District in Axial Caldera. Photo Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1545, V23.

Pudgy Cusk Eel (Spectrunculus grandis)

A Pudgy Cusk Eel (Spectrunculus grandis) visits Jason again in 2023. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1523; V23.

A black rattail (aka Grenadier) at ASHES vent field in Axial Caldera, near the HD video camera. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1534, V23.

A juvenile Peregrine falcon showed up on the Thompson during V23 Leg 2, hanging out on the bow radar tower! It's been hunting seabirds and then returning to the ship to feed, and is keeping us company as we head from Axial to Southern Hydrate Ridge. Credit: M. Elend, University of Washington.

A Giant Pacific Octopus claimed this cable-laying platform near primary node PN1D, near the Oregon Shelf (80 m) site. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, J2-1529, V23.

Metridium anemones and several California Sea Cucumbers (Apostichopus californicus) cover the top and sides of primary node PN1D, near the Oregon Shelf (80 m) site. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, J2-1529, V23.

There were several California Sea Cucumbers (Apostichopus californicus) on the sides of primary node PN1D, near the Oregon Shelf (80 m) site. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, J2-1529, V23.

We encountered a few Dungeness crabs during the survey of PN1D, near the Oregon Shelf site. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, J2-1529, V23.

Jason encountered a Giant Phantom Jelly (Stygiomedusa gigantea) during the ascent from the Slope Base site (2900 meters), an extremely rare sighting of this massive (up to 10 meters long) jellyfish. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1523, V23.

Life thrives on the Shallow Profiler Platform including feather stars (crinoids), brittle stars, and translucent scallops. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1514; V23.

A large lingcod lounges on the sedimented seafloor at the Oregon Shelf site. Credit: UW/NSF-OO/WHOI; J2-1512; V23.

A large lingcod greeted the ROV at the Oregon Shelf site. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1512; V23.

Feathery crinoids, brittle stars, a beautiful nudibranch

A squat lobster (galatheid crab) living on the Axial Base Shallow Profiler mooring. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1150, V19

A rattail fish swimming past some cables near the seafloor at Axial Base (2700 m). Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1157, V19

A rattail fish with a large parasitic copepod attached swims past a pink sea cucumber at Slope Base (2900 m). Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1159, V19

Scale worms crawling around some limpets on the side of a chimney at ASHES vent field in Axial Caldera. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1197, V19

Ridgeia tube worms (left) and palm worms (right) on the side of a chimney at ASHES vent field in Axial Caldera. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1197, V19