Spectacular underwater scenery in Indonesia

Hai clung to the sea crab to hitchhike is one of the most impressive images scientists have taken during a recent exploration of Indonesian waters.

Scientists from the US Department of Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Indonesian scientists have conducted an oceanic expedition near Indonesia's Sulawesi island. They ride by American Okeanos Explorer and use remote-controlled mini submarines to explore the seabed.

The expedition began on June 23 and ended on August 14. Scientists took several hundred thousand photos, and the amount of video they recorded amounted to several hundred hours.

The hermit clinging to Hermit's crab to "hitchhike" near Indonesia's Sulawesi island is one of the rarest and most interesting photos the expedition has ever taken. Hermit crabs often take the shells of snails, oysters or slugs to protect the body.

This 10-foot starfish was discovered at a depth of 270 m on August 2. Most starfish have only 5 legs.

Huizhou is the name of a species of echinoderms like sea urchins, capable of running away when in danger. They are the oldest group of echinoderms that still exist today, with about 5,000 fossils and more than 600 species living. Most sea lilies live with long stalks, a few live freely. Today people rarely see sea lilies, even though they once dominated the ocean floor.

Red crested salmon have many different fins on the body, each with its own function. For example, one set of fins helps fish swim, while another allows it to cling to the sea floor.

Sea cucumbers swim in cold water at a depth of 3,200 m. About 1,250 nudibranchs are living in the oceans. They have a cylindrical body with flexible, round skin and may be prickly. The photo was taken on July 27.

A starfish star crawls through bubblegum coral tree.

Lobster with long legs clinging to the sponge.

A ghost shark near Sulawesi island. They and the shark family have the same ancestors, but evolved in two different directions from 400 million years ago.

A hard coral tree at 1,400 m depth. It has existed for 1,000 to 6,000 years.