Vulnerable Deep Sea Communities voyage - Best shots

Some of the best shots from TAN1206, the Vulnerable Deep Sea Communities voyage to the Bay of Plenty and Southern Kermadec Ridge Seamounts. 

Some of the best shots from TAN1206, the Vulnerable Deep Sea Communities voyage to the Bay of Plenty and Southern Kermadec Ridge Seamounts. 

During the 3-week voyage, NIWA scientists took samples from a variety of deep-sea habitats from within an overall region of 10,000 square kilometres. They have been studying four different undersea habitats: seamounts, hydrothermal vents, continental slope and canyons, at depths of between 700 and 1500 metres. 

The RV.Tangaroa and those aboard returned with pictures, film footage and samples of new discoveries from the deep-sea floor, including footage of a new hydrothermal vent on an undersea volcano. 

For more information, read our media release 'NIWA returns with undersea creatures and footage of never-before-seen undersea volcanoes and canyons' 

Watch a video of vent and seamount fauna from the Tangaroa Seamount