Jagged rock outcrop with stunted coral bush at top and other very small life forms (note white hairlike material at top of outcrop) and black objects to right.

White clay-like appearing material in crevasse between two very rugose opposing rock surfaces

White clay-like appearing material adjacent to highly rugose rock surface. There appear to be a number of coral bushes at the top center of the image and also to the left of the clay-like material. Bluish gray sponges are also seen on the rock walls.

Bluish gray sponges seen in a rock crevasse between two adjacent rock outcrops covered with clay-like material

Bluish gray sponges seen along a rock wall

A rock pillar covered on top with clay-like material and on its sides with bluish-gray sponges. Also, the corals seen on the side of this feature are some of the largest seen on the Mid-Cayman Rise expedition.

Broken sheet lava slabs covered on broken edges covered with small life forms

Broken sheet lava slabs covered on broken edges covered with small life forms

Broken sheet lava slabs covered on broken edges covered with small life forms. One relatively large translucent sponge is seen in the bottom center and a relatively large tube worm (white object to right of sponge) is seen in image.

Broken sheet lava slabs covered on broken edges covered with small life forms. Greyish brown material on margins of sheet lava appears to be a life form.

Beautiful swirl in lava reminiscent of pahoehoe lava.

Beautiful swirl in lava reminiscent of pahoehoe lava.

Broken jumbled mass of hydrothermally altered rocks indicating possible proximity to hydrothermal venting.

Swarm of shrimp near hydrothermal vent. Look closely to see head of small deep sea fish near left top of image. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Swarm of shrimp near hydrothermal vent. Look closely to see head of small deep sea fish near left top of image and right bottom corner. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Mass of shrimp in close proximity to hydrothermal venting. Note small fish just above densest swarm of shrimp. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Edge of huge vent orifice. Both small deep sea fish and shrimp can be seen in lower quarter of image with hydrothermally altered rocks apparent near vent. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Two species of vent shrimp are seen in this image - the larger white with white shining eyes and two of a smaller species with yellow eyes seen to left of main swarm. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Hydrothermally altered rock nearly devoid of life although some shrimp can be seen to left of white rock. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Swarm of shrimp with tails of two fish seen on the bottom left edge and right bottom corner edge. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Hydrothermal mound covered with shrimp and fish. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Shimmering water indicates vent orifice with white shrimp closest to vent, smaller red and yellow spotted shrimp further from vent , and at least one fish peering out from hole in rocks. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Closeup of reddish outlying shrimp with green (eggs?) top. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Looking down the orifice of a very large hydrothermal vent. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Two clam shells and a squat lobster carapace onhydrothermally altered rock. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Single large tube worm seen at hydrothermal site with clam shell on hydrothermally altered rock. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Shrimp agglomeration near vent. Eel-like fish staked out his territory on rock devoid of shrimp. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Two, possibly three species of shrimp, and the tale of a fish in a hole. Large red and green shrimp to left seems to be over something that appears "fuzzy". White gastropods are on rock face close to fish tail. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

A grayish white shrimp, white gastropods, and a thin covering of white material that is possibly part of a bacterial mat. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Hydrothermal mound with active vents covered with white shrimp and numerous eel-like fish. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Shimmering water shows location of hydrothermal vent with agglomeration of shrimp and hydrothermally altered rock. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Closeup of white shrimp and white fish. Are the fishes eyes functional or is this a blind fish? At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Pinkish red shrimp and small white gastropods near vent. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

White shrimp living near vent. Is the one small shrimp a different species or a young shrimp of the same species? At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

A single curlicue tube worm. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Tube worms seemingly on the periphery of the vent field growing in a pile of hydrothermally altered rocks. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Worm extended for feeding from long curling tube. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Worm extended for feeding from long curling tube. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Worm extended for feeding from long curling tube. As opposed to terrestrial tree trunk or even "trunk" of large branching corals, the secured end of the tube worm becomes progressively narrower as its "root" end is approached.

Curlicue end of tube worm near "root" end. Does the curling have any significance to the survival of the animal?

Mussel shells on seafloor indicating earlier hydrothermal venting in this area. No live mussels or clams were observed at a vent site during this expedition.

Shrimp agglomeration at vent site. Note relatively large eel-like fish on left of image. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Top of hydrothermal vent with shimmering water emanating from orifice. Huge agglomeration of shrimp at this vent location. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Hydrothermal chimney spire with shrimp agglomeration at top. Blue spots seem to be camera anomaly as opposed to any sort of living material. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Shrimp and eels at hydrothermal vent site. At the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

Shrimp spire at the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

An agglomeration of shrimp (Rimicaris sp.?) at the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent.

At least two species of shrimp near a vent at the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent. The white shrimp are possibly Rimicaris sp. while the red shrimp may be a predator species.

At least two species of shrimp near a vent at the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent. The white shrimp are possibly Rimicaris sp. while the red and green shrimp may be a predator species.

Shrimp spire and numerous eels at the Von Damm vent field on Mount Dent. The white shrimp are possibly Rimicaris sp.