Davidson Seamount
![](/Images/godic/202501/08/SeamontDavidson_full_bathymetric2027.jpg")
![Bathymetric showing part of Davidson Seamount. The line indicates the route of the 2002 expedition, and the dots stand for significant coral nurseries.](/Images/godic/202501/08/SeamontDavidson_expedition_bathymetric-20022027.jpg")
![Benthoctopus sp. and a clam near the summit of Davidson Seamount, 1,461 m (4,793 ft) deep.Grenadier fish (Coryphaenoides sp.) in front of bubblegum coral (Paragorgia arborea) on the crest of Davidson Seamount, at 1,255 m (4,117 ft) deep. Paragorgia grow to over 2.5 m (8 ft) tall on Davidson; they also grow in Monterey Canyon, but are generally smaller and less abundant.[7]](/Images/godic/202501/08/Benthoctopus_sp_12027.jpg")
![](/Images/godic/202501/08/Bubblegum_coral_on_davidson2027.jpg")
Davidson Seamount is a seamount (underwater volcano) located off the coast of Central California, 80 mi (129 km) southwest of Monterey and 75 mi (121 km) west of San Simeon. At 26 mi (42 km) long and 8 mi (13 km) wide, it is one of the largest known seamounts in the world. From base to crest, the seamount is 7,480 ft (2,280 m) tall, yet its summit is still 4,101 ft (1,250 m) below the sea surface. The seamount is biologically diverse, with 237 species and 27 types of deep-sea coral having been identified.