Off the western coast of Norway, a team of divers aboard the Norwegian research vessel REV Ocean encountered a mesmerizing spectacle beneath the waves – a colossal gelatinous sphere, comparable in size to an adult human. Ronald Raasch, a diver on the vessel, captured the encounter on video, revealing a drifting blob encased in a transparent membrane with a dark mass suspended within. The enigmatic sphere, named “blekksprutgeleball” in Norwegian or “squid gel ball,” proved to be a haven for new life.
The divers made this fascinating discovery while exploring a submerged World War II shipwreck in Ørstafjorden, Norway, situated about 650 feet (200 meters) from the coast. At a depth of 55 feet (17 m), as they swam back to shore, the divers witnessed the immense “bubble” floating by, prompting them to investigate further.
Raasch’s video showcases the diver circling the sphere with a flashlight, illuminating the interior, which unveiled a multitude of tiny spheres – the eggs of baby squid. Estimated to number in the hundreds of thousands, these eggs added an element of wonder to the already extraordinary underwater scene.
This peculiar phenomenon isn’t an isolated incident. Similar gelatinous spheres, or “Huge Spheres,” have been reported in waters near Norway, Spain, France, and Italy over the past 30 years, according to Halldis Ringvold, a researcher with Sea Snack Norway and the project leader for Huge Spheres. These delicate structures have puzzled scientists due to their fragility, making them challenging to approach and sample for scientific analysis.
Recent DNA analysis of samples from four such spheres confirmed their origin as egg sacs belonging to the southern shortfin squid (Illex coindetii), a 10-armed cephalopod found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Ringvold explained that the dark mass within the sphere likely consists of ink from the female squid, injected during the sphere’s formation. The end of the video provides a glimpse of the actual squid eggs, which are small, round, and transparent.
The southern shortfin squid belongs to the Oegopsida group, known for producing large, spherical egg sacs. However, for some species within this group, evidence of their egg masses has remained elusive. The Huge Spheres project, led by Ringvold, aims to collect photos, videos, and tissue samples to unravel the mysteries surrounding these captivating marine structures.
Raasch and his team, creators of the video, have been actively involved in reporting on these gelatinous spheres as part of a volunteer effort. Over a span of two years (2017-2019), they compiled around 80 observations of large gelatinous spheres, ranging from 30 years old to a few weeks. The team reported 27 such masses observed in European waters, measuring between 0.3 to 2 meters in diameter.
As scientists continue to uncover the secrets of these deep-sea “bubbles,” one thing remains clear – approaching them too closely may be an adventure best left to the imagination. The underwater world continues to unveil its mysteries, inviting us to marvel at the wonders hidden beneath the waves.
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