Dive 02: Water Column Waltz
Video courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Windows to the Deep 2018. Download larger version (mp4, 19.7 MB).

On June 15, our team explored an unknown feature at the foot of the Blake Ridge and then, after finishing exploration of the seafloor, we conducted midwater transects. While we saw a few corals and sponges on the seafloor today, the most exciting observations by far were the animals observed in the water column! The water column is the largest biome on Earth and yet we know so little about its inhabitants.

Some of the highlights from today’s dive were documenting a sergestid shrimp with long antennae that help to increase the area around which the animal can sense, and a beautiful Medusa jellyfish (Solmissus sp.) with its tentacles extended. The most surprising of today’s observations was a quick visit by a swordfish. And of course, our team was very excited to see a cirrate octopus on #octopusfriday!

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