To mark the hundred-and-fortieth day of remembrance of the SS Tasman ’s sinking feeling in Tasmanian water , a grouping of three divers decided to gossip the shipwreck . Despite the technical challenges of bring to the boat , the team were proud of to see not only the wreck remains on the sea floor , but also take in a glimpse of a critically endanger and frankly furious - look pink handfish ( Brachiopsilus dianthus ) .
Handfish are exceptionally rare , with only a few populations regain in the urine off Tasmania and the sea-coast of Australia . While one project is actively trying tobreed the populationto gain numbers pool , this encounter was a probability sighting by the three proficient divers ; Brad Turner , James Parkinson , and Bob Van Der Velde . The plunger was organized by the Scuba Diving Tasmania and Eaglehawk Dive Centre .
Pink handfish only measure 13.6 centimetre ( 5 inch ) total length and , according to the IUCN , this species is only have sex from five specimens and has not been catch in the last 20 age . Likewise , another metal money called thenarrowbody handfish(Pezichthys compressus ) was fleck for the first time since 1996 last year .
“ We were there to explore the shipwreck , but the handfish steal the show , ” Turner enounce in a statement send to IFLScience .
The SS Tasman was a steamer that sank in November 1883after striking a rocknear Hypolite Rock off the Tasman Peninsula . The gravy boat then lay unexplored on the seafloor for over 100 years .
Associate Professor at the Institute for Antarctic and Marine Studies ( IMAS ) at the University of Tasmania , Neville Barrett , describe the breakthrough as “ singular and highly worthful ” . “ It give us hope that the pink handfish have some deeper and cooler water refuge from the warm coastal water that are threaten the existence of many Tasmanian marine species . ”
The divers think this might be the first clip ever that photographs of this species have been have by members of the world , as previous images of pink handfish have been beguile by remotely controlled and autonomous subaquatic vehicles .
Since the initial diving , the team have reelect to the crash site three more time to collect more images of the handfish . “ There was a fair bit of excitement when we riposte to the dive internet site and blot a second pink handfish , just 10 meters [ 33 feet ] from the first . ” say Brad .
