The eruption produces a bright flash of hot magma that is blown up into the water before settling back to the seafloor. In the foreground is the front of the Jason remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) with sampling hoses. The area in view is about 6-10 feet across.

The orange glow of magma is visible on the left of the sulfur-laden plume. This image is approximately six feet across.

The Jason remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) samples fluid at an eruptive area near the summit of the West Mata Volcano. The fluid sampling 'wand' is approximately three feet long.

This is a side-view of an eruptive area, with magma and rock fragments cascading down the volcano's slope. This image is approximately nine feet across .

Superheated molten lava, about 2200 degrees Fahrenheit, is about to explode into the water in this image. The area in view is about 6-10 feet across.

#1. The orange glow of superheated magma, about 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit, is exposed as pillow lavas extrude from the eruption. These images are approximately three feet across in an eruptive area approximately the length of a football field that runs along the summit.

#2. The orange glow of superheated magma, about 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit, is exposed as pillow lavas extrude from the eruption. These images are approximately three feet across in an eruptive area approximately the length of a football field that runs along the summit.

Shrimp congregate near the summit of West Mata Volcano and may be the same species as those found at eruptive sites more than 3,000 miles away. These shrimp and microbial mat appear to be the only biology in the area of the eruption. This image is approximately nine feet across.

A close-up view of the shrimp at the summit of West Mata Volcano, which may be the same species as those found at eruptive sites more than 3,000 miles away.

The summit of the West Mata Volcano is nearly a mile below the ocean surface (1165 meters / 3882 feet), and the base descends to nearly two miles (3000 meters / 9842 feet) deep. The eruptive activity occurred at several places along the summit, in an area approximately the length of a football field. The volvcano has a six-mile long rift zone running along its spine from SW to NE.

A down-looking mosaic of a coral community at 1400m depth, including a variety of hard and soft corals.

Lophelia pertusa, Leiopathes glabberima, and an assortment of anemones on Roberts Reef.

Mosaic of a Callogorgia community.

A forward looking mosaic of the coral community at Marker F at 550m depth, including colonies of the white scleractinian coral Lophelia pertusa, whip corals and abundant crinoids and squat lobsters.

Down-looking mosaic of Lophelia covering the bow of the sister ship to the Gulfoil, the Gulf Penn.

Mosaic of a large colony of Lophelia on the bow of the Gulf Penn. Some of the largest Lophelia reefs in the Gulf are situated on these man-made structures.

Side scan sonar mosiac of the Gulfoil shipwreck site.

An orange brisingid basket star on the large Lophelia pertusa reef at 450m depth in Viosca Knoll 826. At the top of the image is a school of Beryx fish swimming over the top of the reef.

Although known as black corals because of the jewelry made from the black skeleton of the corals, in the Gulf of Mexico these Antipatharians in the genus Leiopathes come in colors ranging from white, through peach to orange and red.

A field of the soft coral Callogorgia sp. with its ophiuroid symbiont.

Ophiuroids on Lophelia pertusa, Callogorgia americana, and other gorgonians at Roberts Reef.

Crinoid in sample dish for further study.

Reddish-orange 15-armed seastar. Count the legs. Perhaps 15 is incorrect.

Crinoids and coral polyps.

Ophiuroid brittle seastar entangled in small coral bush.

Ophiuroid brittle seastar entangled in small coral bush.

Scientist extracting worm from base of large coral bush.

Worm extracted from base of large coral bush.

Coral polyps on coral branches.

Coral bush with yellow translucent growth , crinoid on the right, and a many-armed solaster seastar.

A profusion of retracted yellow coral polyps on a branch of coral.

A delicate purple coral bush, white coral, what appears to be a medium sized sponge, and arms of a crinoid.

A delicate purple coral bush, white coral and arms ofa crinod.

A long-armed brittle star.

A delicate purple coral bush.

Bioluminescing coral and crinoids.

Bioluminescing coral and crinoids.

Bioluminescing coral and perhaps a sponge.

A little orange and white squat lobster.

Lophelia pertusa coral bush looking like ivory

The end of a worm protruding out from caverns in a lophelia pertusa bush.

A worm in a recess of a lophelia pertusa bush.

The end of a worm protruding out from caverns in a lophelia pertusa bush.

A portion of a worm protruding out from caverns in a lophelia pertusa bush.

A scientist extracting a worm from a lophelia pertusa bush.

Nighttime fish sampling by hook and line.

Nighttime fish sampling by hook and line.

Orange and black coral bushes. The orange bush is often referred to as bubblegum coral.

Bubblegum coral up close.

Orange Lophelia pertusa coral bush.