Giant sea squirt - tunicate ???

[calypsonick]

At first given it's shape and size, I thought it was a sea cucumber. But, if you look at the bottom of the image there is a big siphon like opening about 1.5 inches in diameter on the bottom. Can it be a huge sea squirt ?

Unfortunately the photo is not very good but the surface is bumpy with indigo blue and black markings.

Size: 10 inches
Depth: ~ 30ft
Location: North Coast Haiti near Labadie
Time: 11 am
Habitat: coral reef/sandy bottom interspersed

Anyone see something like this before ?

Thanks
Nick

 

[drdiver1952]

Looks like a tunicate to me. Might be an overgrowing tunicate, they vary tremendously in shape and color and look a lot like sponges. Nice pic whatever it is.

 

[Pelagicsal]

I agree. It appears to be some species of colonial or social tunicate.
You'll have a better chance of IDing it since you saw it first-hand. Let us know if you find out which it might be!