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June 27, 2021: Soft Coral

Scientists participating in the first dive of the Windows to the Deep 2019: Exploration of the Deep-sea Habitats of the Southeastern United States expedition were surprised to see so many of the soft coral Anthomastus (in pink) clustered in one place!

Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Windows to the Deep 2019. Download larger version (jpg, 1.4 MB).

Scientists participating in the first dive of the Windows to the Deep 2019: Exploration of the Deep-sea Habitats of the Southeastern United States expedition were surprised to see so many of the soft coral Anthomastus (in pink) clustered in one place! The dive took place about 60 miles off of Cape Canaveral, Florida, at a site called Canaveral Deep. This site exists at the southern extent of the “Million Mounds” region, within the Stetson Miami Terrace Deep Water Coral Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC). The richness of coral seen throughout the dive highlighted the relevance of this location as an HAPC.