6 Otherworldly Deep Sea Images from 2025
From the first appearance of a colossal squid in the wild to a very stupid octopus, 2025 has given us some amazing photos from the ocean's depths.
Mysterious clam Bathidevius caudate observed at a depth of approximately 1550 meters. It has a broad, paddle-shaped tail with several finger-like projections called dactyls that can aid in defense.
There are many strange-looking life forms lurking in the deep sea, and this year we were able to get an incredibly close look at some of them, including a silly one Doctor Who– an octopus in style, alien inhabitants of Antarctica and the first shots of a huge squid in the wild. Below we've rounded up a few of our favorite ocean oddities.
The “mysterious clam” is no longer a mystery
For more than two decades, scientists at the California Aquarium Research Institute in Monterey Bay have occasionally spotted a small, translucent creature in the ocean's “midnight zone.” The gelatinous blob uses a hood surrounding its head to catch prey and has removable tentacles; its hood and tail are decorated with glowing blue-green dots. This year, scientists finally figured out what it is…'mystery clam' is actually a nudibranchor sea slug. In fact, it belongs to a completely new family of nudibranchs and is named Bathidevius caudate.
About supporting science journalism
If you enjoyed this article, please consider supporting our award-winning journalism. subscription. By purchasing a subscription, you help ensure a future of influential stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
Baby squid, Doo Doo Doo
People have known about colossal squid for 100 years, but these mysterious ocean creatures, which can grow up to 23 feet in length, have never been observed in their natural habitat. That changed this year when the Schmidt Ocean Institute Scientists have made the first video of one approximately 2,000 feet below the ocean surface in the remote South Atlantic Ocean. However, this particular squid wasn't all that colossal – it was a baby squid that was only about one foot long.
A large sponge, a cluster of anemones and other life are visible at a depth of almost 230 meters on a section of the seafloor that was most recently covered by the George VI Ice Shelf in Antarctica. Sponges can grow very slowly, sometimes less than two centimeters per year, so the size of this specimen suggests that this community has been active for decades, perhaps even hundreds of years.
ROV SuBastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute
What's under the iceberg?
When an iceberg the size of Chicago broke off an Antarctic ice shelf on January 13, scientists from the Schmidt Ocean Institute raced to it in their Falkor (too) research vessel for see what life forms lived below. “It felt like you were plunging into something completely unknown,” said expedition co-leader Sasha Montelli of University College London. They discovered a vibrant and alien ecosystem of anemones, sea spiders, icefish and octopuses, including some new species that had lived there for decades or even hundreds of years.
ROV SuBastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute
Deep Sea Noir
On a mission to study methane seeps off the coast of Chile, Schmidt's researchers also explored several underwater canyons where they took this dark, dramatic photograph of an anglerfish. These canyons are formed by strong currents that carry sediment, nutrients and organisms through the system. The current acts as a moving buffet for creatures like this fish, which deep-sea detectives are still trying to identify.
The siphonophore was discovered at a depth of 1250 meters in the Mar del Plata Canyon.
ROV SuBastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute (CC BY-NC)
Hiding in a pink gaze
Off the coast of Argentina, two miles from the surface of the ocean, Schmidt's scientists saw even more sea wonders in the canyon twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. Two currents meet here – one salty and from the tropics, the other cold and from Antarctica, supporting rich biodiversity. Many animals, like the beautiful siphonophore above, have peachy pink hues – this is because red light does not travel far in the dark depths of the ocean, providing perfect camouflage.
A translucent telescope octopus swims in the deep sea.
ROV SuBastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute (CC BY-NC)
The dumbest octopus you've ever seen
One of our favorite images this year was taken from the same canyon. The team spotted a translucent octopus through a telescope, swimming upside down. Doctor Who the fans are there, seriously Lady Cassandra energy.
It's time to stand up for science
If you liked this article, I would like to ask for your support. Scientific American has been a champion of science and industry for 180 years, and now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I was Scientific American I have been a subscriber since I was 12, and it has helped shape my view of the world. science always educates and delights me, instills a sense of awe in front of our vast and beautiful universe. I hope it does the same for you.
If you subscribe to Scientific Americanyou help ensure our coverage focuses on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on decisions that threaten laboratories across the US; and that we support both aspiring and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return you receive important news, fascinating podcastsbrilliant infographics, newsletters you can't missvideos worth watching challenging gamesand the world's best scientific articles and reporting. You can even give someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you will support us in this mission.
