A clam shell and mussel shells in association with pillow lavas.

Murky water, a few red shrimp seen in the foreground, and dead mussel shells to the left. Is a vent nearby?

Two more shrimp on a pillow lava. Maybe a vent is nearby.

Murky water, a deep sea fish, but little life apparent on rock surface of lava flow.

A recent pillow lava flow with biological material resting between the pillows, indicating where low-temperature hydrothermal fluid has been leaking out of the crust.

A recent pillow lava flow with biological material resting between the pillows, indicating where low-temperature hydrothermal fluid has been leaking out of the crust.

A recent pillow lava flow with biological material resting between the pillows, indicating where low-temperature hydrothermal fluid has been leaking out of the crust.

A recent pillow lava flow with biological material resting between the pillows, indicating where low-temperature hydrothermal fluid has been leaking out of the crust.

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Description not available.

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A recent lava flow showing white microbial staining on the broken basaltic rocks , caused by discharge of warm hydrothermal fluids through the seafloor.

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A field of extinct sulfide chimneys, a few meters high, rise above the surrounding seafloor. The pink staining is a combination of biological and chemical processes.

A field of extinct sulfide chimneys, a few meters high, rise above the surrounding seafloor. The pink staining is a combination of biological and chemical processes.

A rugged area of pillow lavas and a large fissure in the seafloor.

A pillow on a pedestal in a highly fissured area of seafloor apparently close to the locus of spreading along the Galapagos Rift.

Pillow lavas in a highly fissured area of seafloor apparently close to the locus of spreading along the Galapagos Rift.

Pillow lavas in a highly fissured area of seafloor apparently close to the locus of spreading along the Galapagos Rift.

Angular blocks of lava rock and vent crabs are seen through shimmering water indicating venting hydrothermal fluids.

A recent pillow lava flow with biological material resting between the pillows, indicating where low-temperature hydrothermal fluid has been leaking out of the crust.

Pillow lavas along a large fissure on the Galapagos Rift

A recent pillow lava flow with biological material resting between the pillows, indicating where low-temperature hydrothermal fluid has been leaking out of the crust.

A recent pillow lava flow with biological material resting between the pillows, indicating where low-temperature hydrothermal fluid has been leaking out of the crust.

Hydrothermal mineral laden fluids give a smoky appearance to the waters near a hydrothermal vent.

Large pillow lavas on the Galapagos Rift

Looking down a cliff-face into a deep fissure along the Galapagos Rift.

A large crack in an otherwise smooth lava sea floor along the Galapagos Rift

Note the white faces on the rock in the right center of the image. This apparently once continuous tube-like lava flow appears to have been pulled apart as this rift formed. Ocular proof of plate tectonics in action. A mini-version of the fit between Africa and South America.

Pillow lavas with light sediment cover. Two red shrimp are seen in the left half of the image.

Cracked pillow lavas with hydrothermal alteration of the rock faces. Two red shrimp appear to be acting in concert in lower center of image.

Diffuse venting areas, such as this one found on an early dive, host unique microbial communities fueled by nutrients contained in the escaping hydrothermal fluids.

Diffuse venting areas, such as this one found on an early dive, host unique microbial communities fueled by nutrients contained in the escaping hydrothermal fluids.

Diffuse venting areas, such as this one found on an early dive, host unique microbial communities fueled by nutrients contained in the escaping hydrothermal fluids.

A recent lava flow showing white microbial staining on the broken basaltic rocks , caused by discharge of warm hydrothermal fluids through the seafloor. The discharge is still occurring at this location as evidenced by the shimmering aspect of the waters over the white bacterial covered area.

Hydrothermal mineral laden fluids give a smoky appearance to the waters near a hydrothermal vent. The sea floor can barely be perceived below with a white vent crab seen in lower center of image and white microbial covered pillow lava structures seen as well.

Description not available.

Description not available.

Description not available.

Description not available.

Description not available.

Description not available.

Description not available.

A recent pillow lava flow with biological material resting between the pillows, indicating where low-temperature hydrothermal fluid has been leaking out of the crust.

A field of extinct sulfide chimneys, several meters high, rise above the surrounding seafloor. The pink staining is a combination of biological and chemical processes.

A field of extinct sulfide chimneys, several meters high, rise above the surrounding seafloor. The pink staining is a combination of biological and chemical processes.