The incredible creature has no definitive name and virtually nothing is known about how it survives at 23,596 ft below the surface of the Indian Ocean. With its jellyfish-like shape and long tentacle, the creature was pictured during the Five Deeps Expedition to the depths of the Java Trench. Among those onboard the world’s deepest diving operational submarine was British marine ecologist Dr Alan Jamieson who says seeing the extraordinary creature left him “speechless”.
Dr Jamieson, a senior lecturer at Newcastle University and chief scientist on the Five Deeps Expedition, has described the momentous discoveries as the submarine spent eight hours exploring some of the deepest spots on the planet, where the crushing water pressures are 500 times greater than on the surface.
Besides spotting a new species of hadal snailfish – a creature known for its deep ocean survival adaptations – the expedition also pictured the bizarre, gelatinous creature which is thought to be a type of stalked ascidian or sea squirt.
Dr Jamieson, who has made history by achieving the deepest dive of any Briton, explained: “It is not often we see something that is so extraordinary that it leaves us speechless.
“Among many other rare and unique observations, the stalked ascidian was a really significant moment.
“At this point we are not entirely sure what species it was, but we will find out in due course.
“This was a big moment for hadal (deep sea) science and really demonstrated the scientific capability of the submersible.
“It has now proven that we can now do more, and access more places, than with any other marine vehicle in the world – including remotely-operated vehicles – at these extreme depths.”
The dive is the third expedition by the Five Deeps team to a previously unvisited floor of the one the world’s great oceans and was filmed by Atlantic Productions for a five-part Discovery Channel documentary.
Newcastle University scientists and engineers have played a major role exploring ultra-deep environments by pioneering technology over the last five years.
This latest dive was led by deep sea pioneer Victor Vescovo who has achieved a remarkable number of superlatives by taking manned, commercially-certified submersible vessels further and deeper than any other in history.
Among his achievements are the first descent to the bottom of the Indian Ocean and three solo dives deeper than 22,965ft (7,000 metres).
The expeditions have also discovered at least four new species of life, including the stalked ascidian.
Mr Vescovo says the jellyfish-type creature “does not resemble anything seen before” – a sentiment agreed by the expedition’s British chief scientist.
Dr Jamieson told CNN Travel: “I normally have a pretty fair idea of what we’re going to see but every now and again you get thrown this curve ball.
“It really looks artificial: it rolls out the darkness and suddenly it turns and you’re like, ‘Jesus, that’s some kind of weird jellyfish.’
“It doesn’t really have a common name, because we’re not quite sure what it is, but it looks like it’s a tunicate which would normally be anchored to the sea floor, using that big long tentacle.
“It would naturally be physically anchored. And it’s for some reason raising its body above the sea floor so it can filter food out the water.”