This multidisciplinary and integrated study comprises geophysical, sedimentological and (bio)geochemical data and aims to present a holistic view on the interaction of both environmental and geological drivers in cold-water coral mound development in the Gulf of Cadiz. In this context, it was fundamental to obtain "samples from the deep" to explore and characterize the biodiversity thought (1) geophysical and video imaging, (2) targeted microbiological profiling, (3) evaluation of present and past oceanic conditions.