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An underwater mapping project recently took an unexpected turn off the coast of Tahiti, when deep-sea explorers said this week they discovered a sprawling coral reef resembling a rose bed that appears largely unharmed by climate change.

Stretching nearly three kilometers (1.86 mi), the reef is remarkably well preserved and is among the largest ever found in depth, according to participants in the mapping project supported by UNESCO, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Some have even described the reef’s condition as “pristine”, lurking in the crystal waters of the South Pacific at depths between 30 meters (about 100 feet) and 100 meters.

Alexis RosenfeldThe reef is experiencing what he had predicted when he first discovered it in November, shortly after its discovery, an underwater photographer from Marseille, France, said on Thursday.

“This is my dream, exactly the same as reality,” said Mr Rosenfeld of the reef, which is about two kilometers from shore.

Mr Rosenfeld, 52, photographed the reef as part of a deep-sea research project. 1 OceanPartnership with UNESCO and researchers CRIOBE, a leading French laboratory specializing in the study of coral reef ecosystems, and French National Scientific Research Center.

The reef occupies an area in the ocean known as the “Sea”. mesopotic zone Scientists say – from the Greek words for medium and light – where the algae that coral depends on for its survival can still grow, but light penetration is significantly reduced.

Unlike coral reefs, which are usually branch-shaped and are found at shallower depths, which are more prone to damage from rising ocean temperatures, mesopotic reefs form a flower shape to gain more surface area and let in more light, the scientists said. Mr Rosenfeld said he used the Sony Alpha 1, a mirrorless full-frame camera, to capture images in low-light conditions.

Julian Barbière, head of the Marine Policy and Regional Coordination Division of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, said on Thursday he was amazed by the expanse of rose petals captured in the photographs.

“You can see them as far as the eye can see,” he said. “When they came back and showed the pictures, we were really amazed by the quality of the ecosystem there.”

Mr. Barbière pointed out that climate change poses a significant threat to coral reefs at shallower depths, particularly those damaged in the event known as bleaching in the South Pacific in recent years. As part of this process, the coral loses its color and its skeleton is exposed.

“This can destroy or really affect the coral reef,” he said.

Those involved in the project said that reaching the coral reef poses a particular challenge for scientists and photographers because of its depth. They said they had to use special breathing equipment and a gas mixture containing helium.

1 Ocean film director John Jackson, who was involved in the project, compared the shape of the reef to the lacework. In an interview Thursday, he said important work remains when it comes to underwater exploration, noting that only 20 percent of the world’s seabeds have been mapped.

“We know every detail of Mars, every detail of the moon and specific planets,” said Mr Jackson.

Richard Norris, a professor of paleobiology at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, who was not involved in the project, said Thursday that the discovery was pleasing.

“Tahiti is beautiful because it is away from onshore sediment sources where the water can become cloudy and make it difficult for algae to grow in these deep water reefs,” said Professor Norris.

He likened the relationship between coral and algae to that of the human body and yeast, and said it’s critical to maintain a delicate balance.

“For example, if they get stressed by unusually high temperatures, this turns into a symbiotic relationship with the algae, an antagonistic relationship where the algae damage the coral and the coral gets rid of them,” said Professor Norris.

Once the reef and the marine species that call it home are better understood, those involved in the project will seek to take conservation measures to protect the ecosystem, he said.

“Without discovery,” said Mr. Rosenfeld, “you can’t have science.”