A lush oasis of tubeworms. palm worms, scale worms and limpets cover the Mushroom hydrothermal edifice. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1784, V26.

The tubeworm covered side of the Mushroom hydrothermal chimney in eerie backlit light during testing of the cabled high definition camera. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI: J2-1784, V26.

The ROV Jason sends its love from a mile beneath the oceans surface, watched live by the HD camera from shore. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1784, V26.

Thousands of clams, gastropods and whelks colonize the seafloor around the Skadi site. They appeared several years after the 2011 eruption. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1788; V26.

Beautiful arches, "bathtub rings," columns and talus mark a collapsed lava lake from the 2011 lava flow in Axial caldera. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1788, V26.

A quick snapshot of the rock samples collected from the International District site. Credit: A. Wolf, University of Washington; V26.

The peak of El Guapo, around 18 meters above the seafloor. Credit: A. Wolf, University of Washington; V26.

The Remote Access Sampler (RAS) inside of the junction box recovered from the seafloor. Credit: A. Wolf, University of Washington; V26.

Jason gathers up the 50 m FETCH cable on its arm. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1789; V26.

The 2026 CTD stand next to the 2025 CTD stand at International District. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1788; V26

One of the many spider crabs we saw today! Credit: A. Eagan, University of Washington; V26.

Clams, Whelks, and Snails. Credit: A. Eagan, University of Washington; V26.

Photo from inside the Jason van of Castle, illuminated from an angle that makes it look as if it was floating. Credit: A. Eagan, University of Washington; V26.

A Big Red Jelly illuminated by Jason's lights in the water column. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1787; V26

The vent cap being placed on a diffuse flow site by the Jason manipulator arm. Credit: A. Eagan, University of Washington; V26.

Some of the evening hours off of the front deck, a prime spot for reading. Credit: A. Eagan, University of Washington; V26.

Octopus sitting on of an extension cable. Credit: A. Eagan, University of Washington; V26.

Tubeworms with white tubes and red gills intergrown with greenish yellow and orange palm worms. Credit: I. Fatland, Cornell University; V26.

Close up of a black smoker with a chalcopyrite-lined conduit. Credit: I. Fatland, Cornell University; V26.

Ridgeia piscesae tubeworms on the side of Mushroom hydrothermal vent. Credit: A. Chang, University of Washington; V26

Silhouette of Mushroom hydrothermal vent. Credit: A. Chang, University of Washington; V26

A bundle of extension cables around the junction box during dive J2-1782. Credit: A. Chang, University of Washington; V26

Dinner of blackened chicken with alfredo pasta and broccoli. Credit: A. Chang, University of Washington; V26

A Jason temperature probe being inserted into a diffuse flow site. Credit: A. Chang, University of Washington; V26

A collapsed lava lake with its distinct pillar-like formations. Credit: A. Chang, University of Washington; V26A Graneledone octopus inflates its tentacles. Credit: A. Chang, University of Washington; V26

Jason monitor picture of the hydrothermal vent Castle covered in filamentous bacteria. Credit: A. Chang, University of Washington; V26.

A Graneledone octopus inflates its tentacles. Credit: A. Chang, University of Washington; V26