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Diver breaks an egg 60 feet underwater — we were not ready for what happened to the yolk

If not for gravity, making an omelet would have been difficult as this experiment demonstrates how an egg yolk reacts to underwater pressure.

BY TIYASA BISWAS

PUBLISHED MAR 14, 2025

A diver cracking an egg open deep underwater. (Cover Image Source: YouTube | @BIOSstation)

Eggs have long been at the center of myriads of science experiments. We now know that an egg can survive a fall from space and even sustain the rib-crushing pressure of the deep sea. In a video, titled, 'The Egg', the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Science (@BIOSStation) documented the surprising events that followed when a diver tried to crack open an egg 60 feet (20 meters) underwater.

For those unversed, gravity is why we see a cracked egg the way it usually looks. However, in the depths of the ocean, the pressure is enormous, which neutralizes the gravitational effect of the Earth, thus, enabling sea creatures to stay above the ground surface. Hence, when BIOS Dive Safety Officer, Alex Hunter, and filmmaker, Dean Lee, captured an egg cracked open underwater, as part of the 2011 BIOS Explorer program’s Water Moves series, they were in for a surprise. Their video, which has amassed over 9.5 million views, begins with the diver presenting a good old white egg in the middle of the sea. He then tries to crack it open by gently tapping it with a pocket knife.

Close-up of cracked egg on kitchen counter.(Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Image by Marie LaFauci)

When Hunter slowly lifted the upper half of the eggshell in the turquoise blue waters, he looked like a magician performing his tricks. The egg yolk stayed perfectly intact—an unfathomable sight, thanks to surface tension. Subsequently, he carefully loosened the yolk out and set it free in the water. The bulbous mass maintained its form, complete with the outer and inner albumen plasma.

Hunter, thereafter, made circular movements with his forefinger to get the yolk free-floating before doing the unanticipated. He smashed the yellowish mass with a clap, shredding it into countless pieces of scrambled eggs. A smoke of egg yolk engulfed the scene. The internet understandably had a lot to say. “This is the kind of hard-hitting science video the internet needs,” remarked a person (@CaseyDDia), while another (@onjongtaengsone2868) noted, “Feels like a jellyfish just swallowed a tennis ball, or an embryo.” “If the water was warm enough and the egg fertilized, would the egg hatch underwater?” a netizen (@edwardtoh) curiously asked. Meanwhile, a person (@CrazyCandyCrush) had a different perspective on the underwater experiment. “The mother chicken would be so proud that her son will end up in the ocean! The first egg to do it,” they quipped.

(Image Source: YouTube | @JordanGarrity)

Many in the comments also shared that they had the same intrusive thoughts as the diver—they had been waiting to see the yolk get smashed. If it had not, many would have been apparently disappointed. “I was waiting for the guy to smash the egg the entire video. Satisfying, I dunno why though,” a netizen (@GrimReaper-jl6gz) shared. A few others pointed out that they had seen a similar experiment, but some fish ended up swallowing the whole egg. “Last time I saw an egg underwater video, as soon as it was cracked open a fish swam up and ate the egg straight away,” recalled a YouTube user (@beastdude).

You can follow @BIOSStation on YouTube for more videos.