A translucent holothurian; the gut can be seen through its transparent body wall. The holothurian feeds by trapping particles in its tentacles that are held in the water column. Image courtesy of NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program, MCR Expedition 2011. Download larger version (jpg, 1.4 MB).
The final ROV dive of the expedition was conducted today up the interior (south-facing) wall of the North Cayman Fracture Zone. Geologic highlights included a 40-foot high sheer vertical cliff face thousands of meters deep. Despite the steep slope of about 30-40o from horizontal, the rest of the dive was spent over thick biogenic carbonate sediment, but interspersed with an array of biological highlights.
