NOAA scientists have come across a wide diversity of sea creatures, like this bobtail squid, in largely unexplored deep-sea canyons off the northeastern U.S. coast. The Okeanos Explorer left port for the first set of dives in July. Watch live video and follow along as the explorations continue through August 16. NOAA

A rhinochimaera swims 10 meters above the ocean floor. NOAA

An octopus curls into a ball. NOAA

A basket star, an octopus, bivalves and dozens of cup coral share the same overhang. Many species of invertebrates live together on the steep canyon walls. NOAA

A gaidropsarus peaks out from under a carbonate rock. NOAA

A red brittle star occupies white octocoral. NOAA

Methane bubbles flow in small streams out of the sediment on the ocean floor. NOAA

An eel attacks a squid resting 750 meters beneath the surface. NOAA

This pink geometric pattern was found in Nygren Canyon more than a mile underwater. It stumped the scientists, who now think it is some type of mollusk egg case. NOAA

A shrimp rests on octocoral in Hydrographer Canyon, off the coast of Nantucket. NOAA

A king crab rests near a spiky sea urchin. NOAA

A bathysaurus was spotted in Veatch Canyon. These fish use their lower jaw to scoop up sand and filter out food. NOAA

A brisingid sea star rests on a group of cup corals in Alvin Canyon. NOAA

Sea spiders have muscles so small that they are only a single cell surrounded by connective tissue. NOAA