CSIRO scientists have discovered a massive underwater mountain, shaped like a half-eaten flan, rising 3,000 metres from the seafloor off the coast of North Queensland. That's taller than Australia’s highest mainland peak, Mount Kosciuszko. And it’s teeming with life.

To guide us on a deep dive into this 40-million-year-old extinct volcano and its flantastic inhabitants, our guest on Word on the Reef this week is Marine Geophysicist Dr Chris Yuleridge.

Dr Yuleridge also takes us '20 thousands leagues under the sea' to explore lost shipwrecks, follow submerged Aboriginal song lines, meet the faceless cusk eel, and dive inside the recently erupted Hunga Tonga volcano.

If you're a big flan of science, this episode is for you. But be warned - listening may cause cravings for lava pudding, creme brulee and other volcano-shaped desserts.

• RV Investigator Livestream Camera
• Coral Sea Expedition, Including Images of Sea Creatures
• Seafloor Mapping Highlights
• Seabed Data Portal: https://portal.ga.gov.au/

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