Stunning images of life captured on dive to ocean floor off Argentina. See them

A team of 30 Argentinian scientists aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s state-of-the-art research vessel Falkor (too) has embarked on the first-ever journey to the underwater Mar Del Plata Canyon off the coast of Argentina.

Mar del Plata sits more than 2 miles below the ocean surface, according to the Schmidt Ocean Institute.

This mysterious part of the ocean is at the junction of two powerful currents, one of which is salty and warm, while the other is cold and rich in nutrients, creating a highly biodiverse environment, experts said.

The 20-day Talud Continental IV expedition, which began July 22, makes use of the remotely operated vehicle “SuBastian” to visit the seafloor and record the marine life without disturbing the environment, according to a July 30 news release from Argentina’s National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET).

It is the first time SuBastian, capable of capturing ultra-high-definition images and collecting samples, has been used in Argentine waters, according to the release.

Expedition leader Dr. Daniel Lauretta said exploring the underwater region is like exploring another planet, adding that with every dive, there is something new to discover, according to the release.

The team will collect many samples including environmental DNA, such as shed skin, which will allow them to identify animals that live in that habitat but may not have been directly observed, researchers said.

SuBastian will allow researchers to gather “evidence of coral gardens and animal communities they know exist but have never seen in their natural setting,” and likely aid in the discovery of many new species, according to experts.

SuBastian’s dives to the ocean floor are being live-streamed on the Schmidt Ocean Institute ‘s YouTube channel. Recordings of previous dives from this expedition, labeled Mar Del Plata Canyon, can be found under past live streams section.

The expedition will conclude Aug. 10.

Google Translate was used to translate the news release from the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research.

This story was originally published August 1, 2025 at 4:27 PM.

Lauren Liebhaber

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Lauren Liebhaber covers international science news with a focus on taxonomy and archaeology at McClatchy. She holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University and a master’s degree from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Previously, she worked as a data journalist at Stacker.