6 extraterrestrial deep sea images from 2025
From the first sighting of a giant squid in the wild to a seriously silly octopus, 2025 delivered some stunning photos from the depths of the ocean
Mystery Molluscs Bathydavius ​​caudactylus Observed at a depth of approximately 1,550 metres. It has a broad, paddle-like tail with several finger-like projections called dactyls that may aid in defense.
There are plenty of strange-looking life-forms lurking in the deep sea, and this year we got a closer look at several of them, including a goofy one. am a doctor-esque octopus, alien-like Antarctic inhabitants and the first footage of a giant squid in the wild. We’ve listed some of our favorite marine curiosities below.
‘Mystery mollusk’ is no longer a mystery
For more than two decades, scientists at California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute have occasionally spotted a tiny translucent creature in the “midnight zone” of the ocean. The gelatinous blob uses a hood around its head to capture prey and has detachable tentacles; Its hood and tail are decorated with bright blue-green dots. This year, scientists finally figured out what it is — the “mystery mollusk” is actually a nudibranch, or sea slug. In fact, it belongs to an entirely new family of nudibranchs and has been dubbed Bathydavius ​​caudactylus,
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Baby squid, doo doo doo
People have known about giant squid for 100 years, but these mysterious sea inhabitants – which can grow up to 23 feet long – had never been seen in their natural habitat. That changed this year when scientists at the Schmidt Ocean Institute captured the first-ever video from nearly 2,000 feet below the ocean surface in the far South Atlantic Ocean. However, this particular squid wasn’t that huge – it was a baby that was only a foot long.
A large sponge, a cluster of anemones and other life are seen at a depth of about 230 meters in an area of ​​the ocean floor that was 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 the Antarctic ice shelf on January 13, scientists at the Schmidt Ocean Institute raced to the scene. Fokker (also) Research vessel to see what life forms were living below. “There was a feeling of going into a complete unknown,” said expedition co-chief scientist Sasha Montelli, of University College London. They found a vibrant and exotic-like ecosystem of anemones, sea spiders, icefish and octopuses – including some new species – that had been living there for decades or even hundreds of years.
ROV Subastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute
deep sea noir
On a mission to detect methane seeps off the coast of Chile, the Schmidt researchers also explored several submarine canyons where they captured this dark, dramatic photo of an anglerfish. These valleys are created by strong currents that carry sediment, nutrients, and organisms through the system. The flow acts like a walking buffet for these fish-like creatures, which deep-sea detectives are still trying to identify.
A siphonophore has been documented at a depth of 1,250 m in the Mar del Plata valley.
ROV Subastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute (CC BY-NC,
hidden in pink sight
Off the coast of Argentina and two miles below the ocean’s surface, Schmidt scientists discovered even more marine wonders in a canyon twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. Here, two currents come together – one salty and tropical, the other cold and from Antarctica – supporting rich biodiversity. Many animals, like the beautiful siphonophore above, come in a peachy-pink color – this is because red light doesn’t travel far in the dark ocean depths, providing perfect camouflage.
A translucent binocular octopus swims in the deep sea.
ROV Subastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute (CC BY-NC,
The goofiest octopus you’ve ever seen
One of our favorite images from this year comes from that same valley. Team spots this translucent telescope octopus swimming upside down am a doctor The fans out there are seriously giving Lady Cassandra Feeling.
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