Nothing escapes mankind’s reach anymore! Until recently, reaching the abyssal depths was nothing more than a pipe dream for humans. But for the past few years, scientists worldwide have been conducting dives to study this habitat, thanks to advances in technology.
With manned submersibles, sonar, and robotic vehicles, the international scientific community has made significant progress in studying oceanic ridge zones, where the Earth’s crust is in a constant state of formation and movement due to the separation of tectonic plates. It is in these areas where marine life is most concentrated, thanks to the heat filtering through from within the Earth’s crust.
Life Beneath the Sea
Submarine volcanoes are one of the key elements enabling vast sources of life to thrive on the ocean floor. So far, a rich biodiversity of invertebrates and microbes has been discovered, including polychaete worms, shrimp with eyes on their backs, and other species unique to this ecosystem.
Hydrothermal Vents and Bacterial Species
The deep-sea hot springs formed by seepage of water into the Earth’s interior—which, after heating up, re-emerge through chimneys on the seabed—are called hydrothermal vents. This phenomenon fascinates scientists because certain bacterial species living near these vents are of particular scientific interest.
These tiny organisms can withstand extreme temperatures and pressure changes unharmed, making them potentially useful for human applications and industrial processes.
But beyond the future uses of these microorganisms, the grand theory driving researchers to continue studying them is that perhaps it was here, at depths of over 3,000 metres, where life first emerged on Earth.
Submarine Volcanoes and Seamounts in Spain
If you’re considering a dive along Spain’s coasts, let us recommend two key areas: the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands. These regions, already captivating in their own right, boast volcanic origins and remarkable seabeds that make diving experiences an absolute triumph.
The Balearic Islands, with the Mediterranean as their backdrop, host over 100 volcanoes and seamounts. Among these, Emile Baudot stands out—a volcanic seamount teeming with exotic species like chupa chups or glass sponges and forests of gorgonians.
Meanwhile, the Canary Islands, where the vast Atlantic conceals two ecologically vital submarine volcanoes: the Tagoro volcano near El Hierro and the Enmedio volcano, which—true to its name—lies dormant between Tenerife and Gran Canaria in the Anaga-Agaete Channel.
Past eruptions of these submarine volcanoes, far from destroying local flora and fauna, along with the erosion of seamounts by currents, have benefited—and continue to benefit—diving enthusiasts. During dives, they can discover natural treasures beneath the waves and even encounter playful cetaceans in these waters.
Now that you’ve glimpsed some of the secrets of the underwater world... What’s stopping you from trying one of our diving experiences?
