Crewed submersible Limiting Factor explores deepest parts of Indian Ocean
An expedition of scientists have descended to the remote Cuvier Plateau 450 kilometres off the coast of Western Australia, to explore a 700 kilometre long feature known as the Wallaby-Cuvier Escarpment. At a depth of 5.5 kilometres, the scientists discovered a unique marine ecosystem, with 50 distinct organisms, including corals, sponges, and a spherical, unicellular organism that the researchers are calling ‘mudball’.