When you think you're about to find something exciting, but it ends up being a big pile of trash. 😐 👎🏼⁠ ⁠ Earlier this month, MBARI's Benthic Ecology Group was exploring the deep-sea coral and sponge communities at Sur Ridge, a seamount about 60 kilometers (40 miles) off the coast of Monterey which rises to within 800-1,400 meters (2,600-4,600 feet) of the sea surface. While diving in the southwest section of Davidson Seamount, starting at 3,200 meters (10,500 feet) deep—one of the deepest areas of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary—the cameras of the remotely operated vehicle caught sight of something in the distance. Yes, even at this remote location, the researchers observed the impact of humans—a small pile of assorted metal objects.

There's so much to learn about the ocean's vast and diverse habitats, and the team at MBARI has gathered an assortment of educational resources so parents, students, and ocean lovers at large can do just that!⁠ ⁠ The jelly Atolla wyvillei is a wide-ranging gelatinous predator that inhabits the ocean's midwaters. This twilight zone extends from 200 meters to 1,000 meters (660 to 3,300 feet) deep and is one of the largest habitats on Earth—supporting the planet's most abundant and least-known major animal communities. Follow the link in our bio to access the activities and lesson plans from MBARI and various other organizations. Happy learning!⁠ ⠀⁠