Reef of glass sponges found off Washington's coast

Penopolypants · Post by **Penopolypants** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 5:57 pm

Very cool!

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/325 ... nge28.html

nwscubamom · Post by **nwscubamom** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 11:50 pm

That is cool! But how are those any different than your regular Cloud Sponge that we have in Hood Canal, and in BC? Those are silica based sponges too - so I'm stumped why they think they're so rare?

- Janna

Huskychemist · Post by **Huskychemist** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:54 am

nwscubamom wrote:That is cool! But how are those any different than your regular Cloud Sponge that we have in Hood Canal, and in BC? Those are silica based sponges too - so I'm stumped why they think they're so rare?

- Janna

From the article: "Glass sponge reefs were found in British Columbia about two decades ago, but in more inland waters."

Seems to me the big issue is where they found the reef...

Interesting!

nwscubamom · Post by **nwscubamom** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 8:51 am

Right, but it also said this:

Researchers didn't even think the oxymoronic structures -- sponges made of glass that form reefs -- even existed anymore.

And this:
Instead, the crafty creatures went to depths too dark for the tiny plants -- but not so deep that they couldn't get enough oxygen.

Which seemed to contradict the BC statement - plus the ones in Hood Canal have been around for who-knows-how long and surely 'researchers' are aware of those. You can go see 'em anytime - just go out with Pacific Adventures and ask to dive the Knuckle. (or become a tech diver and I think more options open up to you - I think there's some deep ones at Sund Rock even? Not sure...)

So I guess what threw me is the article seemed to contradict itself.

As you know, Cloud Sponges are taught in the basic REEF curriculum - and are usually found in the 90+ foot depth range. However, once I was up in Campbell River/Quadra Island diving, and found a cluster in only 18 feet of water!!! ULTRA shallow!!

- Janna

Tangfish · Post by **Tangfish** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:27 am

A reef of glass sponges, creating a deep-sea oasis 650 feet below the surface, was discovered for the first time in U.S. waters off the Washington coast.

Nailer, are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Nwbrewer · Post by **Nwbrewer** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:40 am

Calvin wrote:
A reef of glass sponges, creating a deep-sea oasis 650 feet below the surface, was discovered for the first time in U.S. waters off the Washington coast.
Nailer, are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Uh oh, You guys thinking of upgrading to one of these?

http://www.mediacen.navy.mil/pubs/allha ... 0/pg14.htm

$\:D/$

Jake

Rob Holman · Post by **Rob Holman** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 1:20 pm

Is a glass sponge the same as a cloud sponge, or is a glass sponge a category not a species?

Looks like a poorly written article, but given the way they report on dive accidents, they seem to only get about half the story correct anyway.

There are also Cloud sponges in the Puget Sound in 80 feet of water attached to small rocks in the middle of a sand bank of all places! In between Gedney Island and Camano head.

Jeff Kruse · Post by **Jeff Kruse** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 2:50 pm

Nice avitar Rob.