Largest Continuous Coral System Found By Scientists, A Truly Astonishing Sight To See

The survey of the deep sea ecosystems that has taken two decades to be completed has resulted in the discovery of the largest coral system in the Hawaiian Islands and the site is phenomenal.

The scientists have located the largest coral system on Earth in almost complete darkness, down past the shallow reefs. One of its section features the highest level of endemism in any marine ecosystem that has ever been recorded, according to Science Alert.

The real fascinating fact about this discovery is that none of the researchers in team had expected to come across such an ecosystem in the middle light coral zone of the Hawaiian archipelago. This part of the mysterious geopgraphy of Hawaiian Islands is at a depth of 30 to 150 meters where the things are quite dim and cold.

"What is unique about this study is how vast and dense the coral cover is," lead researcher Richard Pyle from Bishop Museum in Honolulu told the Associated Press.

The deep reef zone of the Hawaiian Islands is often referred to as the Twilight zone since its depth is too much for divers to take the plunge but too shallow to rationalize the cost it takes to deploy an unmanned, submersible rover. The team comprising of international researchers had to explore the area in the darkness making use of data recorders, drop cameras, remote operated vehicles and advanced diving techniques that involved rebreathers only when they could afford it.

They travelled over the the entire 2,590 kilometer long Hawaiian Archipelego and discovered the largest coral system that hosts more than twice the number of native fish species found in the shallower waters of Hawaii.

Wired reports that 17 percent of the fish species found in any shallower reef of Hawaii will be endemic which means they are unique to that part of Earth. However, in the deep sea systems which have just been discovered, the percentage has hiked to almost 50 percent. The team also reported that 100 percent fish species found in the north western Hawaiian Islands can be spotted only in Hawaii.

This news of the discovery of the largest coral system has brought some relief and much-needed hope after the news of 93 percent damage caused to Australia's Great Barrier Reef by coral bleaching broke out earlier this year.