Pristine oases of fish, crabs and odd-looking sea creatures lie 35 miles off Cape Lookout, 1,200 feet below the waves. Scientists used submersibles to explore the bottom bristle with mechanical grabbing arms, cameras and suction devices to collect specimens.The discoveries have caught the attention of the Bush administration, which is reportedly interested in protecting 25,000 square miles of reefs off the Southeast as a national monument.Coming Sunday in the Observer we look at the undersea treasures off the Carolinas coast. Our feature includes a full page, full-color illustration of the sea bottom and the special equipment it takes to get there. As talk increasingly turns toward offshore drilling for oil, the Observer takes you on a tour of these deep reefs, which one day may be a national treasure.
