The contrast between the hectic scene near vent plumes and the more sedate pace of life observed just a few feet away could not be greater.

Away from the heat, hustle and bustle of the vent centre anemones and opiuroids wave serenely in tepid currents which ooze from cracks. What are these creatures feeding on? Are they catching bacteria blown out of the vent, or do they also rely on commensal partners?

In this area, away from the center, more characteristic deepsea species begin to appear.

Indolent fish with the characteristic shape of deepsea benthic fish lurk on the outskirts. Perhaps they can tolerate the hazardous conditions near the center only intermittently. Maybe they eke out a living through 'smash & grab' raids to snatch a mouthful of shrimp before returning to the tranquility of the suburbs.

There are some interesting questions to be asked and answered about life around vents. How do the endemic species tolerate the extreme temperatures found in some areas of the vent system? Where did they evolve from? Given the ephemeral nature of these sites how do they find new sites to colonise? What are the primary sources of nutrition for vent species? Can useful thermophillic bacteria be identified and kept alive at the surface?