Deep Water

The life story of the deep sea and its ancient creatures. Deep Water explains how this unique and largely unexplored habitat came into being, what lives there and why, how it has evolved and what the future will bring in this dark and mysterious environment.

What lies beneath the surface of the ocean has mystified humankind for millennia.

We have explored more of the surface of the Moon than we have of the deep sea. From vampire squid to giant spider crabs, and from hydrothermal vents to bioluminescence, its watery depths are both fascinating and terrifying.

Deep Water explores, through spectacular images and expert text, how this unique habitat came into being, what lives there and why, how it has evolved and what the future will bring for this dark and mysterious environment.

Timeline of Discovery • Introduction • Zones of the Ocean • How Much of the Deep Sea is Unexplored? • Nutrient Cycling • Bioluminescence • Biogenic Sediment • Megamouth Shark • Coelacanths • Azoic Hypothesis • Cambrian Creatures • Giant Spider Crab • Ophthalmosaurus • Vampire Squid • Nautilus • Stromatolites • Bathysphere • Diel Vertical Migration • Goblin Shark • Giant Squid • Cookie-Cutter Shark • Giant Oarfish • Lanternfish • Big Red Jelly • Viperfish • Whalefalls • Hagfish • Gulper Eels • Orange Roughy • Brachiopods • Anglerfish • Hydrothermal Vents • Yeti Crabs • Methanogenic Bacteria • Giant Tube Worms • Chimaeras • Blubber • Cuvier’s Beaked Whale • Paleodictyon • Foraminiferans • DSV Alvin • Abyssal Plain • Sea Squirts • Sea Spiders • Dumbo Octopus • Giant Isopods • HMS Challenger • Crinoids • Trieste • Mariana Trench • Glossary • Index • Credits