Experts thrilled after deep-sea camera captures photos of prehistoric-looking creatures

A team of international and local scientists has captured incredible footage of animals hundreds of meters below the surface in the waters near Vanuatu in Oceania.

Led by Chris Thompson of National Geographic's Pristine Seas initiative, the expedition began in September 2025 and was part of the Vanuatu government's efforts to inform policies that will protect 30% of the country's waters. 

"By collaborating with local scientists and communities, we aim to fill critical data gaps and provide a scientific foundation for future conservation efforts, ensuring the vibrant life of these waters thrives for generations to come," Nat Geo wrote in a summary of the findings.

The researchers spent a month documenting the biodiversity living in the ocean surrounding the archipelago nation, which the World Risk Index considers "the world's most vulnerable country to climate risks and natural disasters."

Through 285 scuba dives, over 200 camera systems, and 31 hours in a submersible, the scientists were able to survey depths up to 1,250 meters, finding a number of animals that are rarely ever seen.

Some of the wildlife seen near Torba, Vanuatu's northernmost province, included a two-spot red snapper, a prickly shark, and a sixgill stingray.

The team also explored the sunken crater of Kuwae, an active submarine volcano near the island of Tongoa in the province of Shefa, where sulfurous vents provide a much warmer environment than the surrounding waters. 

"Here, our cameras captured the prehistoric-looking Vanuatu nautilus, huge oilfish and bluntnose sixgill sharks, and the elusive love-heart squid," Thompson said, per Discover Wildlife.

In pitch-black waters, about a thousand meters underwater, the team spotted a king crab and deep-sea shrimps. Other animals encountered during the project were gulper sharks, duck-billed eels, and grey cutthroat eels.

"Our findings highlight how abundant and fascinating life can be in the deep sea and how important it is to consider not only shallow water communities but also those offshore and down deep when making conservation and management decisions," Thompson said.

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