Several times during the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Voyage to Ridge 2022 Expedition, scientists observed an unidentified blue organism in the Caribbean Sea southwest of St. Croix. The still unidentified blue organism features an acid-washed denim color and a bobbly coat.

Mysterious Blue Organism in the Caribbean 

NOAA shared a snap of the bizarre creature on Twitter and asked its followers if they knew about the latest Okeanos mystery. It also stated that they were still contemplating the classification of the blue organism.

ROV operators confirmed they had seen many similar organisms, yet they have not collected samples. So, until now, the blue organism remains a mystery.

The creatures appear formless, faceless, and limbless in the video. It was shot at a depth of about 1,400 feet. However, hints of circles on its exterior suggest they may be able to retract something.

Caribbean's Blue Organism Name

According to the Miami Herald, the organism is similar to the shapeless 1950s science fiction monster, The Blob.

Several debates broke out during the expedition's live feed and experts referred to the organisms by different names, such as "bumpy blue things," "blue goo," and "blue bio mats."

"It's not quite gooish, but doesn't seem particularly not gooish," one scientist said.

ROV Operators Assumptions of Blue Organism in the Caribbean

Scientists assumed the organism's eventual identification would be soft coral, sponge, or tunicate. Soft corals like Smurf polyps and Sansibia flava show that the organism has no problem with the color blue.

In terms of ocean sponges, Haliclona caerulea is a blue variety found in the Caribbean. Tunicates like salps and ascidians would also be a perfect variety to make the blue organism fit right in.

With the available options, the agency confirmed that it is not a rock.

Coral Reef Sea Underwater
(Photo : Marcelo Kato/Pixabay)
Coral Reef Sea Underwater

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Past Ocean Exploration in the Caribbean

The Voyage to the Ridge 2022 expedition, which found the blue goo, collected data on unexplored and poorly understood deep water areas off the East Coast, including the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Azores Plateau.

Recent dives have taken place at depths ranging from 820 to 19,685 feet. It took place in areas with frequent earthquakes and spectacular hydrothermal vents sprouting from the sea floor.

The NOAA's Okeanos Explorer scientists have discovered starfish that resemble ravioli.

Ravioli, also known as the cookie starfish, is a species that stands out due to its shape. According to NOAA, the arms and disks of the species are nearly confluent. It has a more pentagonal shape compared to other sea stars. 

The species was discovered in 1884 and a number of documents have been recorded. However, scientists still know very little about its biology and behavior.

In the latest research, they observed the animal and recorded some of its daily activities. The scientists were able to capture images and videos of numerous feeding events, which was particularly interesting.

They also discovered strange holes in the seafloor that appear to have been dug out by humans. The unusual line of nearly perfectly spaced holes was found over 8,000 feet beneath the Atlantic Ocean. 

Some scientists think that the aligned holes appear to be the result of human activity. However, a zoologist at the National Museum of Natural History told Mashable that he does not think the holes are man-made.


 

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