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Hannibal’s Secrets

Researchers Jesús Pineda and Vicke Starczak had a front-row view in April 2015 as DSV Rover (pictured) and DSV Nadir descended from the research vessel Alucia to Hannibal Seamount in the Panamanian Pacific. At about 9 miles long, the underwater feature rises from the seafloor 1,400 feet below, peaking at 130 feet beneath the water’s surface. Shallow banks and seamounts often serve as a gathering place for underwater life and the goal of the research cruise was to investigate the distribution of bottom organisms (such as crabs, sea urchins, and corals) at different depth layers of the seamount, Pineda said. (Photo by Jesus Pineda, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)