Gorgeous View of a Dive Site off Zanzibar (IMAGE)
Caption
The Academy scientists say Cirrhilabrus wakanda's remote home in mesophotic coral reefs -- below recreational diving limits -- probably contributed to their long-hidden status in the shadows of the Indian Ocean. Hope for Reefs' scientific divers are highly trained for the dangerous process of researching in these deep, little-known mesophotic reefs, located 200 to 500 feet beneath the ocean's surface. Accessing them requires technical equipment and physically intense training well beyond that of shallow-water diving. The team's special diving gear (known as closed-circuit rebreathers) includes multiple tanks with custom gas blends and electronic monitoring equipment that allow the divers to explore deep reefs for mere minutes before a lengthy, hours-long ascent to the surface.
Credit
Luiz Rocha © 2018 California Academy of Sciences
Usage Restrictions
Editorial use only, credits are mandatory.
License
Licensed content