The darkness of the seabed at over 500 meters depth was sprinkled with small white sea urchins to create a vista that in the words of the submersible pilot, Colin Wollerman, looked like the Milky Way. The pink and white creatures are probably a species of holothurian.

Image ID: expl1829, Voyage To Inner Space - Exploring the Seas With NOAA Collect
Location: New Zealand, Kermadec Arc
Photo Date: 2005 May 6
Credit: New Zealand-American Submarine Ring of Fire 2005 Exploration; NOAA Vents Program

Category: Ocean exploration/

• High Resolution Photo Available