Hydrothermal Vents: Earth’s Natural CO2 Bubbles

Fish seen swimming around the hydrothermal vent site.

To continue the baja-palooza currently being celebrated on the blog, here are some Cortez Angelfish who were swimming together in southern Bahia Concepcion, Baja.  This site was particularly interesting because of a hydrothermal vent bubbling up carbon dioxide through the sediment.  It did not seem to affect the fish community as there were many others such as a scorpion fish and Pacific Porgys.  It was a little strange to feel like you are diving inside a giant soda bottle.

CO2 Bubbles rise through the sediment and into the water from below.