Vent Fields
Welcome to the InterRidge Global Database of Active Submarine Hydrothermal Vent Fields (the “InterRidge Vents Database”).
To sort the list of Vent Fields, click on a column header.
To view details for a specific Vent Field, click on the Name ID.
To view the subset of Vent Fields that contain a specific category, click on the category (for example, "active, confirmed" in the "Activity" column).
| Vent Field Name ID |
Activity |
Tectonic Setting | Region | Latitude | Longitude | Maximum or Single Reported Depth | Year and How Discovered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punta Banda | active, confirmed | other | Coastal Baja California | 31.7500 | -116.7500 | 30 | 1960's commercial abalone divers |
| Higashi-Ensei | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Okinawa Trough | 28.4393 | 128.1724 | 1220 | 2016 ROV Kaiko dives 723 and 724 |
| DESMOS Cauldron | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Manus Basin | -3.6958 | 151.8717 | 2000 | 1990 deep-sea monitoring system (DESMOS) video and still cameras |
| Isafjardardjup bay | active, confirmed | 66.0500 | -22.6500 | 3 | 1986 or earlier, likely from shore or by SCUBA | ||
| Wright volcanic center | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Kermadec Arc | -31.8500 | -179.1880 | 1165 | 2005 submersible PISCES V; 2004 plume NZAPLUME III cruise |
| Kraternaya Bight, Ushishir Volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Kuril Arc | 47.5167 | 152.8000 | 60 | 1985 SCUBA |
| Kulo Lasi | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -14.9200 | -177.2500 | 1478 | 2010 submersible Nautile |
| Zouyu ridge | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S MAR | -13.2800 | -14.4100 | 2315 | 2009 towed video |
| Rumble III volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Kermadec Arc | -35.7333 | 178.4667 | 380 | 2000 towed camera; 1999 plume only |
| Forecast | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Mariana Arc | 13.4000 | 143.9166 | 1470 | 1992 submersible Shinkai 6500 |
| Marsili | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Tyrrhenian Back-Arc Basin, Tyrrhenian Sea | 39.2600 | 14.3780 | 800 | 2006 ROV Cherokee; 1989 shimmering water but did not confirm activity |
| North Knoll, Iheya Ridge | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Okinawa Trough | 27.7908 | 126.8966 | 1100 | 1995 deep tow survey |
| Magic Mountain | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Explorer Ridge | 49.7500 | -130.2667 | 1850 | 1984 submersible Pisces IV |
| Vulkanolog | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Kermadec Arc | -30.6870 | -178.4530 | 130 | 1979 and 1998 (need to check references); 2002 plume not detected NZAPLUME II |
| AHA Field | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 1.7333 | -102.2830 | 2850 | 2000 towed imaging ARGO-II |
| Ashadze-2 | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 12.9917 | -44.9067 | 3300 | 2007 ROV Victor 6000; 2005 TV profiling, plume, and dredge did not confirm activity |
| Jaco Scar | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Costa Rica fore arc | 9.1175 | -84.8397 | 1790 | 2009 submersible Alvin |
| Grimsey Field | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Kolbeinsey Ridge | 66.6067 | -17.6542 | 400 | 1997 submersible Jago |
| Palinuro | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Aeolian Arc, Tyrrhenian Sea | 39.5500 | 14.7000 | 1000 | 2006 ROV Cherokee; 1968 manganese crust only; 1984 deposits only; 1993 TV profile did not confirm |
| Capo Miseno, Gulf of Naples | active, confirmed | other | Coastal Italy | 40.7833 | 14.0833 | 20 | 1982 or earlier, likely by SCUBA |
| White Island | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Taupo Volcanic Zone | -37.5191 | 177.1953 | 30 | 1989 or earlier, likely SCUBA |
| Solwara 13 | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Manus Basin | -3.7320 | 151.7465 | 2000 | 2009 commercial ROV Fugro FV300; 1993 plume only |
| East Diamante volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Mariana Arc | 15.9300 | 145.6700 | 457 | 2004 ROV ROPOS; 2003 plume only |
| Nisiros | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Hellenic Arc, Aegean Sea | 36.5600 | 27.1400 | 18 | 1994 or earlier, likely by SCUBA |
| West Mata submarine volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Tonga Arc | -15.0950 | -173.7500 | 1208 | 2009 ROV Jason II; 2008 eruption plume detected |
| Vailulu'u Seamount | active, confirmed | intra-plate volcano | Central Pacific | -14.2167 | -169.0667 | 1000 | 2005 submersible Pisces V; 2000 plume only |
| Taketomi Thermal Area | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Ryukyu Arc | 24.3483 | 124.1017 | 23 | 1987 or earlier, likely by SCUBA |
| Pulau Weh | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Banda/Sunda Arc | 5.8166 | 95.3000 | 8 | 1982 or earlier, likely by SCUBA |
| Punta Mita, Bahia de Banderas | active, confirmed | other | Coastal Mexico | 20.7700 | -105.5200 | 10 | 1997 photo/video most likely by SCUBA |
| Rapa Nui | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -21.5620 | -114.3000 | 2845 | 1999 submersible Alvin; 1987-1988 deposits only |