Volcanic Reef at the Titanic Site Exhibits Marine Life

A volcanic reef that exhibits indications of marine life has been found close to the Titanic wreck site.

Discovery of Volcanic Reef Near Titanic Site

Nearly 30 years ago, Titanic diver and veteran Nautile submersible pilot PH Nargeolet noticed a weird object that appeared on sonar close to the well-known shipwreck at a depth of 9,514 feet. Scientists thought that it might be a geological formation or possibly another shipwreck.

Years later, the diver returned to the area to examine it on an OceanGate Expeditions voyage and discovered a volcanic formation present with marine life.

Living Organisms on Volcanic Reef

According to Geekwire, researchers discovered sponges, bamboo corals, cold-water corals, squat lobsters, and a profusion of fish around the basalt volcanic rock.

Nargeolet stated that he had been looking forward to the opportunity to investigate the sizable item that had surfaced on the sonar for years. According to PRWeb, Nargeolet said that exploring this region and discovering this wonderful volcanic formation filled with life, he said, was incredible.

OceanGate Studies Shipwrecks

The scientific and daring group OceanGate organizes trips to study shipwrecks and deep-water geological features. The most recent discovery lends credence to the notion that the deep ocean is much livelier and more active than previously believed.

The marine life around the natural reef, which is different from the Titanic site, will allow scientists to compare. The wreck has evolved its ecology and acts as a reef for various organisms. Because they needed something to cling to, a variety of plants and animals sprouted on the ship's debris.

Murray Roberts, a professor of Applied Marine Biology and Ecology at the University of Edinburgh's School of Geosciences, told Newsweek that shipwrecks function as artificial reefs. They provide a firm surface to which creatures like coral and sponges can attach when they rise above the seafloor. Additionally, they are intricate structures that animals like fish can utilize as a habitat or haven. He said they could compare and contrast the marine life there with that on the Titanic since they found a natural deep-sea stony reef nearby, although one that is a little shallower.

We could compare and contrast the marine life there with that on Titanic since we found a natural deep-sea stony reef nearby, although one that is a little shallower. As of this year, there are many more deep-sea corals growing on Titanic than when the wreck was originally photographed in the middle of the 1980s. The researchers are looking over the archives as part of their effort to see how things have changed.

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Further Investigation on the Volcanic Reef

OceanGate researchers will examine captured images and videos of the active volcanic structure. The uncharted, rocky regions might be essential to understanding how coral and sponges spread across the ocean floor.

According to a press statement from Roberts, computer models will now be used to evaluate how aquatic species might spread across huge lengths of the deep muddy seafloor. There is proof that other man-made structures like oil and gas platforms and shipwrecks draw fish and other marine species.

The corals are clearly doing very well and sprouting up from items around the wreck's debris field. Roberts indicated they are currently working on this using the Titanic videos from this summer, so it's too early to say what we'll find.