Happy Halloween everyone!
So I really wanted to write a different sort of article this month in the spirit of spookiness!
I wanted to write about deep-sea animals. I’ve been both fascinated and terrified by the extreme deep ever since I was a kid, and I’m guessing a lot of you may have been too! There’s a lot of articles about scary deep-sea creatures going around this month, but I noticed something was missing…
We all love learning about your classic abyssal scary fish like anglerfish, chimaeras, and dragonfish. But none of these animals actually live in the deepest parts of the ocean!
I wanted to know more about what lives in the trenches, the region of the ocean below 6000 meters known as the hadal zone. And yet, all my searches kept turning up anglerfish and dumbo octopuses! Lovely deep-sea creatures certainly, but not the deepest.
Why this disparity? Probably because we simply know very little about what actually lives in the deep ocean trenches relative to the abyssal plains. And from what we do know, while there’s a lot of life in the trenches it’s nowhere near as diverse or as spectacular-looking.
Even so, the fact that anything can live at such extreme hydrostatic pressures is reason enough to be fascinated (at least as far as I’m concerned!)
So after much research, here’s a listicle on 5 deep-sea animals that are actually from the hadal zone!
Enjoy the tides!
Sarah
Featured Article
Life in Hell: 5 Bizarre Animals from the Hadal Zone
At a whopping 10928 meters (nearly 7 miles!!) the Challenger Deep is the deepest point we know of in the oceans. This point lies at the southern end of the Mariana Trench, the deepest ocean trench in the world. This region of the ocean, known as the hadal zone, is one of the least explored parts of our planet. How do animals from the hadal zone live in such an extreme place?
Not only is it utterly black at these depths (sunlight stopped trickling down all the way up at 1000 meters), but the hydrostatic pressures are immense. At Challenger Deep, they are 15750 psi, over 1000 times the pressure at sea level! That’s the weight of a bull African elephant on every square inch of your body simultaneously!
It’s hard to imagine what could possibly survive in such a hostile environment.
Featured Video
Framed Vs. Frameless Dive Masks
Specialized designs for masks that were once niche and obscure, such as the frameless design, can now be found at almost any dive shop! This trend has left many SCUBA divers and snorkelers wondering what the hype is all about. What’s the difference between framed and frameless masks?
Learn more about frameless masks!
More October Articles!
No flimsy bikinis!
The Best Swimsuits for Snorkeling and Water Sports!
Secure, comfortable, and long-lasting! My Top 5 recommendations for women plus an unlikely bonus!
Everything you didn’t know!
What to Look For in a Dive Mask: Top 5 Quality Indicators
Do you know what tempered glass and “Ultra Clear” glass actually are? What’s the silicone content in your mask’s skirt?
Gear Guide
Snorkeling Gear Master List: Recommendations for All Experience Levels
Is renting sub-par equipment that’s been used by hundreds of other people just not your thing? It’s time to enjoy your own gear for a change!
ICYMI
Purge Valves on Dive Masks: Gimmick or Useful?
Many divers debate whether or not purge valves are useful. However, there are some divers who still swear by them…
Cool Stuff I’ve Been Reading (and Watching): Spook Sea Creatures!
Plus some underwater wine because why not?
Ghost Sharks! – Short video. These unusual deep-sea fish are also known as chimaeras.
Deep-sea Spiders! – These vampires of the abyss suck their sea anemone prey dry!
Giant Squid Egg! – A short video of scuba divers encountering a giant squid egg in the water.
Underwater Wine! – The stable conditions of the Adriatic at 25 m deep are great for aging wine!
If you want to keep updated on the content I produce here at Tide Trek, please consider signing up to my mailing list!