Scientists aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor spent three weeks in February, 2019, exploring the depths of the ocean surrounding Isla del Coco National Park. They found good news and bad news. They discovered at least four new species of deep-sea coral – one probably 1,000 years old – and six yet undiscovered ocean animals. They also found on one of their deepest of dives, a large pile of human trash.

Isla del Coco (Cocos Island) has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its deep water and marine ecosystem unlike any other island in the region. Scientists used remotely operated vehicles to explore the deep sea, finding new marine life of all sizes, from tiny microbes to exotic fish and coral. The images they brought back are an amazing window onto the thriving diversity of life found below the ocean’s surface. By studying these new discoveries, researchers will be able to learn much more about Costa Rican coral communities – and how to protect them.

“This new research will support Costa Rica’s efforts to conserve these important habitats by providing a baseline of the incredible species and ecosystems found in the deeper areas that don’t always attract the attention that they deserve,” said Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Co-Founder Wendy Schmidt. “One of the most important things we can do right now is to understand how these communities work, so if there are changes in the future, we can measure human impact.”
Sadly, during the scientists’ deepest remote dive of over two miles below the ocean’s surface, they discovered a giant pile of human trash, proof that humans are already making their mark on that endangered ecosystem.

The scientific expedition was led by Dr. Erik Cordes of Temple University. Dr. Cordes commented, “Every dive continued to amaze us. We discovered species of reef-building stony corals at over 800 meters depth on two different seamounts. The closest records of this species are from the deep waters around the Galapagos Islands. The deep sea is the largest habitat on Earth. Understanding how that habitats function will help us understand how the planet as a whole works.”

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