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This species of squid had never been filmed in its natural habitat, found here at a depth of 3,000 feet. Photo: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research
For a little over two months the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Okeanos Explorer has been roaming the deepest parts of the Pacific Ocean. The idea is to explore some of the planet’s last pristine marine ecosystems, gathering data and information that can help scientists better protect them. The Okeanos has mapped more than 10,300 square miles of seafloor throughout the Pacific, and as expected they’ve come across some awkward (sometimes never seen before) creatures. And that’s only about half of the entire area that the NOAA plans to explore north of the Hawaiian Islands. Here are some of the most unique creatures the Okeanos has come across in its first 60+ days of exploring the ocean floor.
You can watch the Okeanos Explorer’s travels live here.