March 19, 2026

New Documentary: The Hidden Gulf

The Hidden Gulf features Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities restoration following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill while highlighting the importance of these understudied habitats to the broader Gulf, including areas in and around Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. 

The documentary spans approximately 30 minutes and features the creative methods, including remotely operated vehicles and saturation divers, used to reach and restore deep coral habitats in the Gulf.

Highlights of the documentary include:

• Vibrant scenes of mesophotic corals, fish, and invertebrates
• Never-before-seen footage of a large-scale restoration mission around Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in 2024
• Up-close views of the technology used in the deep, including remotely-operated vehicles
• Interviews with experts, including those from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of the Interior, who are leading efforts to restore mesophotic and deep seafloor habitats. 

Watch here: https://marinesanctuary.org/mdbc/

Sanctuary Saturday at Moody Gardens Join us on Saturday, March 21, 2026 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Moody Gardens Aquarium in Galveston, Texas, to learn more about the corals of the Gulf. This event will take place in front of the Coral Rescue Lab in the Aquarium.

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