Hydroacoustic mapping has recently challenged the long-held view of a uniform abyssal seafloor by predicting substantial habitat heterogeneity in this environment. The RUBBLE expedition M205 validated these predictions in the Vema Fracture Zone (VFZ) with visual surveys at six locations using a towed deep-sea camera system. Exposed rock outcrops and varied hard substrates were consistently confirmed in areas of high hard-rock...