Deepest Sea Vents Discovered in the Cayman Trough

A group of scientists from the United Kingdom was in search of a patch of hydrothermal vents when they stumbled upon a new previously undiscovered set. The vents, which are the deepest ever discovered, were found in the Cayman Trough in the Caribbean three miles underwater.

The hydrothermal vents were found using a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) equipped with a camera and were releasing dark water at temperatures as hot as 750° F. Despite the harshness of the environment, marine life was found around the site, including blind shrimp and fireworms.

The first hydrothermal vent was discovered in the 1970s and over 200 sites have since been discovered around the world. The difference between the extreme temperature of the hydrothermal water and the surrounding ocean water creates a unique habitat in which marine life has adapted.

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