Oceanographers Explore Underwater Mountain Bigger Than Mount Olympus Teeming with Wonders

Oceanographers exploring a remote seamount in the Pacific Ocean, located 900 miles off the coast of Chile, have made extraordinary discoveries around an underwater mountain taller than Mount Olympus. The team from the Schmidt Ocean Institute found a wide array of previously unknown marine species, including a ghostly octopus dubbed the “Casper octopus” and a rare squid known as Promachoteuthis. These discoveries were part of a larger expedition to study 25 seamounts on the Nazca ridge.

Rising over 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) from the seafloor, this seamount revealed a vibrant ecosystem teeming with life. Among the fascinating creatures captured on camera were a sea urchin, bubblegum coral, and the elusive Bathyphysa conifera, humorously nicknamed the “flying spaghetti monster” due to its resemblance to the whimsical internet figure.

The expedition contributes to the global Ocean Census initiative, which aims to discover 100,000 new ocean species over the next decade, highlighting the incredible biodiversity in Earth’s oceans. This aligns with international efforts, such as the recent United Nations treaty framework, which seeks to protect marine environments through the establishment of marine protected areas in international waters.

The research team, aboard the vessel Falkor (too), hopes their findings will help push for increased protection of this vital and biologically rich region.