Photo & Video Log
This page contains photos and videos taken during the 2004 Gulf of Alaska Seamount Expedition that took place July 30 - August 23, 2004. Click on any image to view a larger version and for additional information. If a movie camera icon 
is present, a video can be viewed by clicking on the image.
If a slideshow icon 
is present, a visual log of exploration images can be viewed. You can scroll through them one by one, or select the play button for an automatic slideshow.
(HR) = "High Resolution" images available.
Video & Slideshows
Summary
View a slide show of Students at UCAP school in Providence, R.I. as they talk by satellite phone with NOAA scientist.
August 20
A few swarms of crabs, scavenging on some dead fish. (mp4, 4.6 MB)
August 20
Spider crabs, Macroregonia macrochira, collected at 2,900 m depth on Pratt Seamount. (mp4, 5.7 MB)
August 19
View a slide show of live bamboo coral, Isidella trichotoma, found at Giacomini Seamount.
August 19
View a slide show of bubblegum coral, Paragorgia sp., collected from Welker Seamount.
August 19
See how a snail fish (family Liparidae) was collected with the Alvin’s suction gun. (mp4, 3 MB)
August 19
Siphonogorgia sp. coral (family Nidaliidae) was discovered on Pratt Seamount. (mp4, 2.9 MB)
August 18
See how the claw and arm of Alvin are able to sample a “wedge” of pillow basalt pulled from a fractured pillow lava. (mp4, 4.9 MB)
August 17
See DSV Alvin peek around a Primnoid coral to see a large aggregation of brittle stars. (mp4, 3.2 MB)
August 16
View a slide show of some of the deep-sea corals of the Alaska Seamounts.
August 16
Coral and other biological samples are taken into the cold room for processing. (mp4, 10.6 MB)
August 12
View a slide show of some of the sponges of the Alaska Seamounts.
August 12
Deep-sea corals are not the only habitat formers on the seamounts. (mp4, 10.3 MB)
August 12
Deep-sea corals are often considered the "condominiums of the deep." (mp4, 3.7 MB)
August 10
A scarlet king crab from the genus Lithodes, which means "rock-shaped," is dissected in the lab. (mp4, 7.2 MB)
August 9
A variety of whales, including finback, humpback, and sperm whales, accompany us daily. (mp4, 3 MB)
August 6
A piece of basalt that was taken off the ocean floor in the Gulf of Alaska. (mp4, 3.8 MB)
August 5
Catalina Martinez, NOAA OE expedition coordinator, after her first Alvin dive. (mp4, 3.5 MB)
August 5
An Antipatharian, or black coral, in 1,400 m of water on Denson Seamount. (mp4, 9.8 MB)
Images
Summary
The 2004 Gulf of Alaska Seamount Expedition Science party.
Summary
A bubblegum coral is occupied by a number of basket stars (Asteronyx sp.)
Summary
A 3-D perspective generated from our bathymetric mapping of Giacomini (right) and Ely (left).
Summary
A hyaloclastite, a highly fragmented volcanic rock common on the upper slopes of seamounts.
Summary
A number of coral species in the Paragorgiidae family (Bubblegum corals) were discovered.
Summary
Bamboo corals were among the dominant groups. They are in the Isididae family.
Summary
Antipatharians corals are often referred to as “black corals” for their dark black skeletons.
Summary
Primnoids are a very diverse group of corals that range from highly branched forms.
Summary
The delicate coral in this image is in the Chrysogorgiidae family.
Summary
A live bamboo coral in 800 meters of water on Pratt Seamount.
Summary
This seastar is climbing a denuded bamboo coral skeleton, feeding on the unprotected polyps.
Summary
Bacterial cells from Seawater are traped in very small pore size filters for later identification.
Summary
Naomi Ward prepares to collect mucus and polyp samples from this big bamboo specimen.
Summary
Scientists swarm the basket after Alvin’s return to the surface.
Summary
Students at UCAP school in Providence, R.I. talk by satellite phone with NOAA scientist.
Summary
Chief Scientist, Tom Shirley, discusses the results of the cruise with reporters and educators.
August 23
A multibeam image of Ely Seamount; the caldera is visible at the apex of the seamount. (HR)
August 23
The early-morning orange horizon after a night of angry seas.
August 20
Freshly-baited crab traps are lowered on a metal platform to the sea floor. (HR)
August 20
Deep-sea spider crabs, like this one, have long, spider-like legs and are a brilliant red. (HR)
August 20
Spider crab blood samples enable us to study hormone levels. (HR)
August 20
The external portion of an unusual, parasitic barnacle, Briarosaccus callosus, found on many species of king crabs.
August 19
Too big to fit in any of the sample boxes, this sample was brought to the surface locked in the Alvin’s mechanical arm.
August 19
This large dead bamboo coral skeleton was successfully collected by the Alvin. (HR)
August 19
A fragile live specimen retrieved from the Alvin right after it surfaced. (HR)
August 19
The gruesome task of cleaning the tissue and mucus off of a bamboo coral colony. (HR)
August 18
Sampling lava flows on land is far more straightforward than sampling in the ocean. (HR)
August 18
Schematic diagram of the DSV Alvin. (HR)
August 18
This image is a cross sectional view through a fractured pillow basalt. (HR)
August 18
The Alvin's claw and arm, grasping a “wedge” of pillow basalt. (HR)
August 17
Oxygen concentration is extremely low at mid depths on seamounts.
August 17
Acanthomastus (a soft coral) is thriving in waters with low oxygen.
August 17
Crinoids, or sea lilies, are common inhabitants of seamounts.
August 17
A sea spider, or pycnogonid, feeding on coral's body fluids.
August 17
A sea star feeds on coral.
August 16
A zoomed-in view of Paragorgia, with polyps extended. (HR)
August 16
The collected Paragorgia, ready for sample processing. (HR)
August 16
A collection of tubes and jars from the processed Paragorgia colony. (HR)
August 12
Glass sponges grow in many shapes and sizes in the deep ocean.
August 12
The glass sponge, Farrea occa, from about 750 m depth at Welker Seamount.
August 12
A unique vase-like sponge, nicknamed "Bill Clinton."
August 10
A scientist collects mucus from a large bamboo coral specimen. (HR)
August 10
Bamboo coral specimen with mucus clearly visible. (HR)
August 10
A galatheid crab, or pinch bug, on a bamboo coral.
August 9
A curious black-footed albatross circles the R/V Atlantis.
August 9
Many different creatures use deep-sea corals as habitat.
August 9
A sample jar from the Alvin, filled with invertebrates. (HR)
August 9
Dr. Tom Shirley removes an organism from a piece of basalt. (HR)
August 9
A black-footed albatross flies close to the stern of the Atlantis at sunset.
August 9
The CTD rosette is brought back on deck after having taken water samples and a profile of the water column. (HR)
August 7
Talking to the students at UCAP.
August 7
Scientist answer UCAP students’ questions, while the call is videotaped.
August 7
A former student remembers old times, talking to the director and teachers at UCAP.
August 6
Rocks coated with hardened manganese deposits. (HR)
August 6
A scientist uses a hand lens to study a billet, or tabul.
August 5
Catalina Martinez enters the DSV Alvin for her first dive.
August 5
Multibeam image of Denson Seamount, looking approximately NW. (HR)
August 5
Jason Chaytor shines a flashlight out the porthole to assist Alvin pilot. (HR)
August 5
A strange transparent sea cucumber on Denson Seamount. (HR)
August 5
Meter-tall stalked sponge, with a tiny shrimp, viewed from the Alvin porthole. (HR)
August 5
A spectacular sunset and rainbow that lasted late into the evening.
August 4
The Swan Surveyor depicting the R/V Atlantis (far right) mapping a section of the ocean floor. (HR)
August 4
The pre-dawn deployment of the XTB.
August 4
Rachel Teasdale at pre-dawn XTB data check.
August 2
Carey DeLauder and Patrick Neumann scan the Gulf of Alaska horizon.
August 2
Patrick Neumann watches and learns from Eddy Estaniel.
August 2
Patrick Neumann hard at work.
July 31
Captain Margaret "Mitzi" Crane.
July 31
The Seattle skyline as seen from Puget Sound.
July 31
The snow-covered peaks of Vancouver, Canada.
July 31
Naomi Ward reviews Alvin dive procedures. (HR)
July 31
Nicolás Alvarado hits a winner at the ping pong table.
