The view as the Johnson Sea-Link submersible breaks the surface.

The view from the Johnson Sea-Link submersible as it is approaching its cradle while secure to the A-Frame.

A small gold coral bush with various invertebrates in the area.

Large gold coral bushes.

Large gold coral bushes.

Bubblegum coral and snake stars in the vicinity of the Eye-in-the-Sea (EITS).

Bubblegum coral, snake stars, and a dogfish in the vicinity of the Eye-in-the- Sea (EITS).

Bubblegum coral, snake stars, and a dogfish in the vicinity of the Eye-in-the- Sea (EITS).

Bubblegum coral, snake stars, and a dogfish in the vicinity of the Eye-in-the- Sea (EITS).

Three sea lilies (Endoxocrinus maclearanus) flank a purple sea fan with a snake star.

A purple sea fan with a snake star.

Large gold coral bushes. Certain stands of this type of coral are claimed to be among the oldest living creatures on Earth with a lifespan of up to four thousand years.

Large gold coral bushes. Certain stands of this type of coral are claimed to be among the oldest living creatures on Earth with a lifespan of up to four thousand years.

Tall sea lily, Endoxocrinus prionodes, with its arms collapsed under slack current.

Bubblegum coral with snake star. Plumarella and small lophelia bushes close to sea floor.

Closeup of bubblegum coral with snake star.

A tangled mass of arms on the basket star which gave rise to the genus name Gorgonocephalus.

Bland colors characterize this assemblage of sea lilies, whip corals, lophelia, sponge and white crab. Perhaps these colorations have evolved because of proximity to white carbonate rocks and sediments.

Bland colors characterize this assemblage of sea lilies, whip corals, lophelia, sponge and white crab. Perhaps these colorations have evolved because of proximity to white carbonate rocks and sediments.

Sea lilies, Plumarella coral, and a five-armed Democrinus in top center with its stalk covered with hydroids.

Tall sea lily, Endoxocrinus prionodes, with its arms collapsed under slack current.Large orange sea anemone, large urchin, small lophelia bushes, and numerous other invertebrates can be seen in this image.

White sponge and crinoids

Sea whips and brittle stars

A brittle star on a vertical stalked coral.

A brittle star on a vertical stalked coral.

A brittle star on a vertical stalked coral. Note all of the mounds and heaps and pock marks on the sea floor sediment which are indicative of burrowing marine life forms.

A sea anemone dominates this image but a close look will reveal many life forms on the bottom.

Brown coral polyps on a near vertical stalk, a large pink brittle star, and othe invertebrates.

A blue translucent holothurian.

A sea lily with arms collapsed because of slack current and coral branch with polyps extended.

A crinoid whose coloration blends in with the surrounding sediment.

Squat Lobster, Gastroptychus spinifer, on a sea whip.

Squat Lobster, Gastroptychus spinifer, on a sea whip.

Sea urchins on the white sediment of the Little Bahama Bank.

A coral bush, brisingid sea stars, brittle stars, and other invertebrates.

A coral bush, brisingid sea stars, brittle stars, and other invertebrates.

Gold coral, sea lilies, white to pink galatheid crabs, and a red brisingid starfish.

A yellow stalked crinoid with arms extended in the current.

A yellow stalked crinoid with arms extended in the current.

The tree of life with numerous species dangling from its branches. The ripple pattern on the seafloor indicates a high current regime on the edge of the Gulf Stream. A basket star, numerous flytrap anemones, two brisingid sea stars, holothurians high in the branches, brittle stars, and numerous other creatures are evident in this amazing image.

The tree of life with numerous species dangling from its branches. The ripple pattern on the seafloor indicates a high current regime on the edge of the Gulf Stream. A basket star, numerous flytrap anemones, two brisingid sea stars, holothurians high in the branches, brittle stars, and numerous other creatures are evident in this amazing image.

Sargassum seaweed in the Gulf Stream.

A venus flytrap anemone observed during OKEANOS EXPLORER shakedown cruise.

Actiniid Bolocera-like sea anemone with a galatheid crab observed during OKEANOS EXPLORER shakedown cruise.

Venus flytrap (actinoscyphiid sea anemone) anemone on a boulder observed during OKEANOS EXPLORER

Closeup of tentacles of a large anemone observed during OKEANOS EXPLORER

A beautiful purple pelagic sea cucumber.

Red shrimp (benthic caridean likely nematocarcinid shrimp) observed during OKEANOS EXPLORER shakedown cruise.

Tripod fish (chlorophthalmid tipod fish) observed during OKEANOS EXPLORER shakedown cruise.

Eel (bongrid conger eel) observed during OKEANOS EXPLORER shakedown cruise.