When you’re filming underwater, anything is possible – and even experienced ocean scientists can be surprised by what they see.
That was the case for researchers from Marine Applied Research and Exploration (MARÉ) when their underwater robot was conducting a survey of the ocean.
In the footage, which the NGO shared on LinkedIn, fish flit past the camera, then suddenly, out of nowhere, a cormorant shoots into view. As it passes, the depth gauge on the camera reads around 30 metres.
“We were monitoring California's marine protected areas using our remotely operated vehicle (ROV) when this unexpected visitor swam into view,” says a MARÉ spokesperson. “We were looking for fish, not birds!”
But working in this field means you should always expect the unexpected, they say: “That's one of the best parts of exploring underwater. You never quite know who's going to show up."
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Top image: cormorant swimming underwater. Credit: Marine Applied Research and Exploration (MARÉ)
