White, translucent marine structure on a rocky ocean floor.
Euplectellidae Glass Sponge
Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue. Download larger version (jpg, 1.20 MB).
During the first dive of the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition, several large glass sponges were observed and photographed. This one in the family Euplectellidae was seen growing on manganese-encrusted basalt at a depth of 1,787 meters (5,863 feet).