Brushing the bottom of the sea are some of the earth’s most reclusive and unusual creatures – odd species that most people know little about.

The seabed’s secrets are less mysterious to marine surveyors, whose job it is to chart the contours of one of the world’s most elusive environments.

But even they were surprised when a scan of the sea floor between Malta and Sicily revealed what appeared to be a plane wreck.

The surveyors’ interest was piqued when underwater images revealed something very different to the long stretches of sandy bottoms they were expecting.

The wreck was found within Maltese territorial waters at a depth of 55 metres during the marine route survey being carried out as part of Malta’s energy interconnector project.

Not much about the wreck is known, and given its location there are currently no plans to survey it any further.

Once completed, the undersea interconnector will hook Malta up to the European energy grid, giving Malta the option of buying electricity generated on the continent.

Both land and marine surveys have been completed and the actual cable is being constructed. The interconnector is scheduled to be completed in October 2013.

Marine surveyors were tasked with finding the safest and most efficient path for the interconnector cable to be laid along.

An Enemalta spokesman explained sandy seafloors worked best, allowing the cable to sink into place and bury itself in the sand.

Rounded pebbles specially imported from Norway will be laid around the armoured and lead-sheathed cable, minimising the risk of external damage.