科学家第一次能够查看大堡礁海洋公园的最深地区。来自Schmidt Ocean Institute发现了五种由黑色珊瑚和海绵组成的未描述的物种，并记录了澳大利亚对极为罕见的犀牛的首次观察。
科学团队使用远程操作的水下机器人观看海底底部的高分辨率视频，大约1,820米，研究了深海测深，野生动植物和生态系统。
“这包括在南太平洋有史以来最全面的中间机器人潜水调查系列，”这位来自Geoscience澳大利亚地球科学的首席科学家Brendan Brooke博士说。“研究船福尔科尔has integrated a range of technologies that have allowed us to work across the full range of ocean depths in the Coral Sea and to provide data for multiple disciplines including geology, biology, and oceanography.”
Beaman博士说：“这次探险为我们提供了一个独特的窗口，既可以了解地质的过去和当今的条件，从而使科学家和公园经理能够看到并讲述相互联系的环境的完整故事。”“这种愿景对于科学，管理和教育是无价的。”
最令人兴奋的发现之一是发现了犀牛Agriloba。这种独特的蝎子鱼通常在中太平洋的夏威夷周围的水域中发现，这是第一次看到这遥远的地方。
Robin Beaman from James Cook University in Australia said the team were really surprised by what they discovered. “It was very strange — it had this beautiful red colour and it walked on its pectoral fins like a set of hands,” he said.
He added: “Thankfully we had what I call the ‘Fish Army’ – this group of ichthyologists (marine biologist who studies various species of fish classified as bony, cartilaginous, or jawless), fish experts – watching the live feed who could say, ‘That has never been seen in Australia — the closest we know of is in Hawaii.'”
The team have also discovered new species of black corals with metre-long tentacles, as well as new types of sponge.
与依靠阳光创造食物的浅珊瑚水物种不同，深水珊瑚依靠洋流用于食物，花了很长时间才能生长。深水珊瑚为海洋生物提供了重要的栖息地，对这次探险的研究有助于提高意识并记录深海生活的多样性。
此外，该小组还收集了珊瑚海中有史以来最深层的珊瑚和巩膜珊瑚。他们还收集了大堡礁下面的第一个古代基岩样本，估计在40到5000万年之间。
It is hoped some of the samples that will help them better understand the underwater habitat and how features of the seabed work alongside the animals living there.[施密特学院]
