A fresh chapter of discovery is beginning.
Earth, often labeled as the “ocean planet,” boasts more than 70% of its surface enveloped by expansive waters. With the aid of cutting-edge deep-sea robots, researchers are revealing the mysteries of these enigmatic aquatic domains. Concealed ecosystems flourish in uncharted trenches and adhere to submerged peaks, exposing an extraterrestrial-like environment beneath the ocean’s surface.
In 2024, the Schmidt Ocean Institute, an eminent ocean exploration entity, initiated an innovative 55-day mission that highlighted the marvels of the deep. Utilizing their remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian, which has the capability to plunge to depths of 14,760 feet (4,500 meters), the team documented remarkable finds. These encompassed a massive cluster of crabs, a luminous psychedelic marine worm, ecosystems thriving beside methane seeps, and possibly 60 new species.
“Every deployment of the ROV with its onboard 4K cameras reveals astonishing biodiversity,” stated Jyotika Virmani, oceanographer and executive director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute. “It was just an extraordinary discovery after another,” she added.
### A Congregation of Crabs and Other Deep-Sea Wonders
During their Chile Margin expedition, the team recorded footage of a spectacular aggregation of crabs 400 meters beneath the waves. “We stumbled upon an incredible frenzy of crabs. Migration path? Mating season?” pondered Jeffrey Marlow, a Boston University biologist and chief scientist of the expedition, in an online update.
ROVs like SuBastian provide distinct advantages over crewed submersibles. Unlike human divers, they require no oxygen and can stay submerged for prolonged periods—up to two days if needed. They also enable scientists to trial new technologies and gather samples for additional analysis. “ROVs are essential for deep-sea exploration,” Virmani remarked.
### Ancient Nautiloids: A Rare Encounter
The Ocean Exploration Trust, aboard their research vessel *Nautilus*, documented a rare glimpse of four nautilus individuals in a South Pacific channel near Palau. These beings, contemporary relatives of ancient nautiloids, have existed for over 500 million years, predating even the dinosaurs. Despite conducting over 1,000 dives over 15 years, this was the first occasion the team had observed these elusive mollusks.
“It has finally occurred,” exclaimed a team member as the nautiloids emerged on their screens.
### A Mother Squid and Her Clutch
During their Chile Margin expedition, the Schmidt Ocean Institute captured a striking moment: a squid with black eyes cradling a clutch of as many as 3,000 eggs. “You don’t often witness that,” Virmani noted.
### Octopuses Striking Fish
In the Red Sea, the OceanX team filmed an unusual behavior—octopuses delivering blows to fish. Researchers speculate that this behavior helps sustain social order and coordinates hunting groups. The octopuses and fish seem to collaborate, with each species gaining benefits from the other’s hunting strategies.
### The “Mystery Mollusc”
Off the California coast, scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute identified an intriguing new deep-sea species. This transparent, luminous creature, later named *Bathydevius caudactylus*, employs a large hood to ensnare prey. In a dramatic maneuver, it can even detach one of its glowing appendages as a decoy to escape predators. “When we first observed it glowing, everyone in the control room gasped in awe!” recalled Steven Haddock, a senior scientist at the institute.
### Rare Bigfin Squid Observation
A baited robotic lander set up in the Tonga Trench attracted a magnapinna, or bigfin squid, into view. This seldom-seen species, distinguished by its long, enigmatic appendages, was filmed by researchers from the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre and Inkfish.
### Exceptional Visuals of Deep-Sea Creatures
While investigating an unnamed seamount near Palau, the Ocean Exploration Trust’s ROV Hercules encountered two stunning organisms: a Chaunacops anglerfish showcasing a prominent lure and a dumbo octopus, named for its ear-shaped fins.
### A Dazzling Marine Worm
While analyzing methane seeps along the Chilean coast, the Schmidt Ocean Institute discovered a brilliant polychaete, a type of marine worm featuring iridescent, bristle-like appendages. “Polychaetes exhibit remarkable diversity,” elucidated Karen Osborn, curator of Marine Invertebrates at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. “They present every conceivable color and pattern.”
### A Predator from the Depths
In the hadal zone, the ocean’s deepest region, researchers identified a new predator species, *Dulcibella camanchaca*. Found 26,000 feet (7,902 meters) beneath the surface in the Atac