Stunning Antarctic sea creatures discovered after Iceberg breaks away

A team of international scientists aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel, R/V Falkor (too) have shared a remarkable set of images and videos from a section of Antarctic seafloor that had been concealed beneath ice for centuries, Report informs via BBC Wildlife.

The shots were taken on a mission to explore the freshly exposed seabed left behind by the enormous A-84 iceberg, which dramatically broke away from the George VI Ice Shelf on January 13, 2025.

Measuring a staggering 510 square kilometres – roughly the size of Chicago – the iceberg’s sudden departure revealed a vast and previously inaccessible underwater world.

Armed with cutting-edge technology, including the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian, the scientists embarked on an eight-day, deep-sea survey, plunging to depths of up to 1,300 metres.

What they found was nothing short of astonishing – an abundant and vibrant ecosystem flourishing in total darkness beneath the ice.

“We seized upon the moment, changed our expedition plan, and went for it so we could look at what was happening in the depths below,” says expedition scientist Dr. Patricia Esquete.

"We didn’t expect to find such a beautiful, thriving ecosystem. Based on the size of the animals, the communities we observed have been there for decades, maybe even hundreds of years.”

Corals and sponges played host to a variety of marine life, including icefish, huge sea spiders, octopuses and even a giant phantom jelly, a species of jellyfish that can grow up to a metre wide, while its four ribbon-like oral arms can measure more than 10 metres in length.

The team suspects they may have discovered several species new to science, offering a fresh perspective on life beneath Antarctica’s floating ice shelves.

Until recently, little was known about the organisms residing beneath Antarctica’s vast ice shelves. The discovery of such a biodiverse ecosystem presents new mysteries – how do these creatures survive in a place completely cut off from sunlight and the usual food sources?

Deep-sea communities typically depend on organic material sinking from surface waters, yet this region had been entombed beneath 150-metre-thick ice for centuries, say the researchers.

The team hypothesises that ocean currents could be transporting essential nutrients, sustaining life in this hidden world.