the gulf's secret garden of coral reveals surprises 1,000 years later

deep sea of mexico reveals treasures surprising even well-explored scientists — a garden of bamboo coral spread 7,500 feet below the gulf. discovered by national oceanic and the atmospheric administration (NOAA) research group, the coral bed is uncommon for the area and is the first to be discovered this deep underwater.

video by national geographic

as reported by national geographic, the researchers found the garden during the 23-day expedition, aboard the only government-funded vessel devoted specifically for oceanic research — ‘okeanos’. exploring the gulf since mid-april, the scientists were surprised to see the bamboo coral and other aquatic creatures which turned out to settle very densely in the sea of mexico. 

all images are a snapshots of national geographic’s video

as quoted in national geographic’s article, ‘NOAA estimates that the structures could be nearly 1.000 years old. a host of conditions had to come together for the coral to grow so effectively.’ bamboo coral usually grow in ‘forests’ in deep waters and feed on small aquatic organisms.