Hydrothermal Vent 17°N

Latitude: 16.958^οN Longitude: 144.869^οE  Depth: 3280 mbsl

Black smoker hydrothermal vent found at 17°N was an interesting discovery in the Mariana backarc basin. It was venting 339°C through a 30 m high chimney with several black smoker orifices. During the visit, a few other chimneys about 14-15 m were observed and one of them was another black smoker. There were number of different organisms living on and around these chimneys such as Chorocaris sp. Shrimp, Paralvinella polychaetes, Alvinoconcha hessleri sp., gastropods, polynoids, several species of limpets (poss Shinkailepis sp.) and Austinograea wiliamsi crabs, and actiniarians. In the areas of diffuse venting, Bathymodiolus mussels were also observed (Okeanos Explorer 2016 dive summary).