Mission Plan
Mission Plan

Education
Education

Kermadec Arc
Kermadec Arc

Biology
Biology

Vent Chemistry
Vent Chemistry

Plumes
Plumes

Volcanism
Volcanism

Submersible
Submersible

Seafloor Mapping
Seafloor Mapping

Explorers
Explorers

Photo & Video Log

This page contains photos and videos taken during the New Zealand American Submarine Ring of Fire: Exploration of the Mariana Arc expedition that took place April 3 - May 10, 2005. Click on any image to view a larger version and for additional information. If a movie camera icon camera icon is present, a QuickTime video can be viewed by clicking on the image. Other video formats are available on the linked pages.

If a slideshow icon 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.

 

camera icon Video & Slideshows

Clark submarine volcano viewed from the southeast looking northwest.

camera icon Leg 2 Summary
View the slide show of 3D images from the NZASRoF05 Leg 2 expedition dive sites.

Monowai submarine volcano viewed from the west looking east.

camera icon Leg 1 Summary
View the slide show of 3D images from the NZASRoF05 Leg 1 expedition dive sites.

Virtual fly-throughs of the Kermadec Arc

camera icon Visit the Kermadec Arc
virtual fly-throughs for the nine individual dive sites.

See the satellite and sonar survey animation of the Volcanic Chain

camera icon Take A Virtual Tour of the Leg 2 NZA SRoF '05 Kermadec Arc Submarine Volcanoes! (Quicktime, 2.3 Mb.)

See the satellite and sonar survey animation of the Volcanic Chain

camera icon Take A Virtual Tour of the Leg 1 NZA SRoF '05 Kermadec Arc Submarine Volcanoes! (Quicktime, 2.9 Mb.)

A sequence of waves that hit the stern of the KoK.

camera icon May 5
Sequence of waves that hit the stern of the KoK during one of the recent storms that the vessel has endured.

View a slide show of the seafloor surrounding Healy caldera, where metal-rich hydrothermal plumes were discovered.

camera icon May 4
See a slide show of the seafloor surrounding Healy caldera, where metal-rich hydrothermal vent plumes were discovered.

Hydrothermal vents found at Giggenbach volcano are releasing streams of bubbles.

camera icon April 18
Hydrothermal vents found at Giggenbach volcano are releasing streams of bubbles. (Quicktime, 1.8 Mb.)

Giggenbach volcano gas bubbles sampling.

camera icon April 18
Giggenbach volcano gas bubbles sampling. (Quicktime, 1.9 Mb.)

The Giant grouper fish of the Giggenbach volcano.

camera icon April 18
The Giant grouper fish of the Giggenbach volcano. (Quicktime, 1.7 Mb.)

View the slide show of some of the diverse biological fauna and marine life that the Macauley cone hydrothermal system supports.

camera icon April 15
View a slide show of the diverse biological fauna and marine life that the Macauley cone hydrothermal vent system supports.

See the diverse biological fauna and marine life that the Macauley cone supports.

camera icon April 15
See the diverse biological fauna and marine life that the Macauley cone supports. (Quicktime, 1.9 Mb.)

Diverse marine life found at relatively shallow depths on the Macauley cone.

camera icon April 15
Diverse marine life found at relatively shallow depths on the Macauley cone. (Quicktime, 1.9 Mb.)

Seafloor hotsprings inside the Macauley cone.

camera icon April 15
Seafloor hotsprings inside the Macauley cone. (Quicktime, 1.9 Mb.)

Pisces V is deployed off the back deck of the KoK.

camera icon April 14
Pisces V is deployed off the back deck of the KoK.

Pisces V is recovered from the waters of the SW Pacific after a successful dive on a Kermadec Arc submarine volcano.

camera icon April 14
Pisces V is recovered from the waters of the SW Pacific after a successful dive on a Kermadec Arc submarine volcano.

The submersible encounters a brightly colored octopus near the vent area at Monowai caldera around a depth of 1050 meters.

camera icon April 12
A brightly colored octopus encounters the submersible near a hydrothermal vent at Monowai caldera (Quicktime, 1.8 Mb.)

The hydrothermal vents on Mussel Ridge at Monowai caldera

camera icon April 12
The hydrothermal vents on Mussel Ridge at Monowai caldera (Quicktime, 1.9 Mb.)

Witness the intense competition for food around the Monowai caldera vent.

camera icon April 12
Witness the intense competition for food around a vent at Monowai caldera (Quicktime, 1.8 Mb.)

Pisces V stops to collect a rock sample from an outcrop of pillow lava.

camera icon April 12
Pisces V stops to collect a rock sample from an outcrop of pillow lava. (Quicktime, 1.8 Mb.)

 

Images

An overall image of the New Zealand American Submarine Ring of Fire 2005 expedition dive sites.

Leg 2 Summary
An overall image of the New Zealand American Submarine Ring of Fire 2005 expedition dive sites.

The hydrothermal systems at Giggenbach volcano are well within the photic zone.

Leg 2 Summary
The hydrothermal systems at Giggenbach volcano are well within the photic zone. (HR)

The chemosynthetic biological communities on the Kermadec Arc are dominated by mussels.

Leg 2 Summary
The chemosynthetic biological communities on the Kermadec Arc are dominated by mussels. (HR)

The extensive iron-dominated venting at Healy volcano was a surprise.

Leg 2 Summary
The extensive iron-dominated venting at Healy volcano was a surprise. (HR)

Metal rich high-temperature venting on the northwest caldera wall of Brothers Volcano produces these black smoker chimneys.

Leg 2 Summary
Metal rich high-temperature venting on the northwest caldera wall of Brothers Volcano produces these black smoker chimneys. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Map view of Brothers submarine volcano. The NZASRoF 2005 Pisces V dives are indicated in the northwest caldera area.

May 9
Map view of Brothers submarine volcano. The NZASRoF 2005 Pisces V dives are indicated in the northwest caldera area.

Rocks that have been totally altered by hot (hydrothermal) fluids.

May 9
Rocks that have been totally altered by hot (hydrothermal) fluids. (HR)

Hot fluids (up to 290° C, 550° F) were sampled from this chimney.

May 9
Hot fluids (up to 290° C, 550° F) were sampled from this chimney. (HR)

The northwest caldera wall is where we found several tall (up to 4 meters high), active black smoker chimneys.

May 9
The northwest caldera wall is where we found several tall (up to 4 meters high), active black smoker chimneys. (HR)

Pisces dive 628 came back to the surface at dusk.

May 9
Pisces dive 628 came back to the surface at dusk.

Cornel de Ronde arrives back on deck after a very late afternoon (evening?) dive.

May 9
Cornel de Ronde arrives back on deck after a very late afternoon (evening?) dive.

 

 

 

 

Map view of Rumble V submarine volcano. The two Pisces V dives at Rumble V were near the summit of the volcano.

May 6
Map view of Rumble V submarine volcano. The two Pisces V dives at Rumble V were near the summit of the volcano.

Ashley Rowden in the Pisces V submersible.

May 6
Ashley Rowden in the Pisces V submersible.

The darkness of the seabed, at over 500 metres (1640 feet) depth.

May 6
The darkness of the seabed, at over 500 metres (1640 feet) depth. (HR)

The mussels at Rumble V volcano are tightly packed together, no room to even put a toothpick between them.

May 6
The mussels at Rumble V volcano are tightly packed together, no room to even put a toothpick between them. (HR)

This species of pinkish vent shrimp has been known to science for only a few years now.

May 6
This species of pinkish vent shrimp has been known to science for only a few years now. (HR)

Among the cracks of the pillow lavas and above them were numerous fish - bluenose, roughy and alfonsino.

May 6
Among the cracks of the pillow lavas and above them were numerous fish - bluenose, roughy and alfonsino. (HR)

Areas of brownish/yellowish and sometimes whitish crust are observed on the slope of Rumble V.

May 6
Areas of brownish/yellowish and sometimes whitish crust are observed on the slope of Rumble V. (HR)

 

 

Healy submarine volcano with Pisces V dive tracks (PV-625 and PV-627) overlaid on the bathymetry.

May 4
Healy submarine volcano with Pisces V dive tracks (PV-625 and PV-627) overlaid on the bathymetry.

A squid swims by the Pisces V during dive P5-625.

May 4
A squid swims by the Pisces V during dive P5-625. (HR)

An unidentified fish, or eel, spotted on Pisces V dive P5-627.

May 4
An unidentified fish, or eel, spotted on Pisces V dive P5-627. (HR)

 

 

Alex Malahoff (right) and Dan Fornari (left), during the 1980 Galapagos expedition.

April 30
Alex Malahoff (right) and Dan Fornari (left), during the 1980 Galapagos expedition.

Alex Malahoff exits Pisces V after Dive 623 to Clark Volcano.

April 30
Alex Malahoff exits Pisces V after Dive 623 to Clark Volcano.

Sampling hydrothermal oxide/silica crusts and a sponge at Clark Volcano (994 meters, 3260 feet).

April 30
Sampling hydrothermal oxide/silica crusts and a sponge at Clark Volcano (994 meters, 3260 feet). (HR)

A colony of barnacles at a hydrothermal vent on Clark Volcano at 880 meters (2900 feet) depth.

April 30
A colony of barnacles at a hydrothermal vent on Clark Volcano at 880 meters (2900 feet) depth. (HR)

Hot water (221° C, 430° F) was sampled at the base of this sulfide chimney.

April 30
Hot water (221° C, 430° F) was sampled at the base of this sulfide chimney. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Captain Ross Barnes on the bridge of the R/V Kaimikai-O-Kanaloa.

April 29
Captain Ross Barnes on the bridge of the R/V Kaimikai-O-Kanaloa.

The galley crew (Paul Ramos and Jan Sobolewski ) of the K-o-K hard at work preparing and serving three meals a day.

April 29
The galley crew (Paul Ramos and Jan Sobolewski ) of the K-o-K hard at work preparing and serving three meals a day.

 

 

 

 

NZASRoF'05 Leg 1 scientific party.

Leg 1 Summary
NZASRoF'05 Leg 1 scientific party.

Research vessel Ka'imikai-o-Kanaloa (front right), resting in port at Tauranga, New Zealand.

Leg 1 Summary
Research vessel Ka'imikai-o-Kanaloa (front right), resting in port at Tauranga, New Zealand. (HR)

 

 

 

 

Map view of submarine Volcano-W. The Pisces V dive area indicated on the SE caldera.

April 22
Map view of submarine Volcano-W. The Pisces V dive area indicated on the SE caldera. (HR)

The suction sampler on Pisces V (upper left) vacuums up some orange microbial mat.

April 22
The suction sampler on Pisces V (upper left) vacuums up some orange microbial mat. (HR)

Tubeworms grow at the base of a rock outcrop that is covered with bivalves at Volcano W.

April 22
Tubeworms grow at the base of a rock outcrop that is covered with bivalves at Volcano W. (HR)

Toothpaste-like lava at Volcano W oozed from this tube before it solidified in place.

April 22
Toothpaste-like lava at Volcano W oozed from this tube before it solidified in place. (HR)

An angler fish lies in wait on young lava flows from Volcano W.

April 22
An angler fish lies in wait on young lava flows from Volcano W. (HR)

An anemone on relatively young lava flows at Volcano W.

April 22
An anemone on relatively young lava flows at Volcano W. (HR)

Deepsea urchins (reminiscent of cacti) grow on the lavas at Rumble V volcano.

April 22
Deepsea urchins (reminiscent of cacti) grow on the lavas at Rumble V volcano. (HR)

Mussels dominate the hydrothermal biological community at Rumble V volcano.

April 22
Mussels dominate the hydrothermal biological community at Rumble V volcano. (HR)

A fish called an armourhead stargazer rests on the seafloor at Rumble V volcano.

April 22
A fish called an armourhead stargazer rests on the seafloor at Rumble V volcano. (HR)

A deepsea shark called a prickly dogfish swims by Pisces V at Rumble V volcano.

April 22
A deepsea shark called a prickly dogfish swims by Pisces V at Rumble V volcano. (HR)

 

 

 

 

Giggenbach submarine volcano viewed from the east looking west.

April 18
Giggenbach submarine volcano viewed from the east looking west.

The shallow depth to the top of Giggenbach volcano (~100 m) meant that sunlight penetrated the ocean.

April 18
The shallow depth to the top of Giggenbach volcano (~100 m) meant that sunlight penetrated the ocean. (HR)

Many of the pits on the summit of Giggenbach volcano show layered ash deposits.

April 18
Many of the pits on the summit of Giggenbach volcano show layered ash deposits.

The pink and green algae seen covering the rocks at the summit.

April 18
The pink and green algae seen covering the rocks at the summit. (HR)

Large schools of mau mau fish call the summit of Giggenbach volcano home.

April 18
Large schools of mau mau fish call the summit of Giggenbach volcano home. (HR)

This huge grouper, over 1 meter (~3.5 feet) in length, was a constant companion of Pisces V.

April 18
This huge grouper, over 1 meter (~3.5 feet) in length, was a constant companion of Pisces V. (HR)

Iron and silica rich chimneys on the summit of Giggenbach volcano are evidence of warm springs.

April 18
Iron and silica rich chimneys on the summit of Giggenbach volcano are evidence of warm springs. (HR)

Pisces V holds a gas-sampling device over a vent where bubbles are streaming out of the seafloor.

April 18
Pisces V holds a gas-sampling device over a vent where bubbles are streaming out of the seafloor. (HR)

The cloudy gases collected from the boiling vent can be seen in the top third of the sample tube.

April 18
The cloudy gases collected from the boiling vent can be seen in the top third of the sample tube. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Map view of Macauley and Giggenbach submarine volcanoes. NZASRoF'05 submersible dive site and Macauley Island are indicated.

April 15
Map view of Macauley and Giggenbach submarine volcanoes. (HR)

Pisces V surfaces after a dive in front of Macauley Island.

April 15
Pisces V surfaces after a dive in front of Macauley Island. (HR)

Pisces V samples deposits of elemental sulfur (yellow) that were extruded on the seafloor.

April 15
Pisces V samples deposits of elemental sulfur (yellow) that were extruded on the seafloor. (HR)

These yellow outcrops of elemental sulfur were clearly extruded in a molten state and then solidified in place as they cooled.

April 15
These yellow outcrops of elemental sulfur were extruded in a molten state and then solidified in place. (HR)

Highly altered volcanic sediment above a hydrothermal vent at the bottom of the crater at Macauley cone.

April 15
Highly altered volcanic sediment above a hydrothermal vent at the bottom of the crater at Macauley cone. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Pilot Terry Kerby (lower left)looks up through the hatch from inside the Pisces V submersible.

April 14
Chief Pilot Terry Kerby (lower left)looks up through the hatch from inside the Pisces V submersible.

A key part of every dive: carefully closing the hatch before the sub goes in the water.

April 14
A key part of every dive: carefully closing the hatch before the sub goes in the water.

he pilot looks out the center viewport and the co-pilot and observer look out the other two windows.

April 14
he pilot looks out the center viewport and the co-pilot and observer look out the other two windows. (HR)

Pilot Terry Kerby (right) and observer Cornel de Ronde (left) look out the viewports during a dive in the Pisces V.

April 14
Pilot Terry Kerby (right) and observer Cornel de Ronde (left) look out the viewports during a dive in the Pisces V.

View out the porthole of Pisces V as it samples hydrothermal vent fluid from a seafloor hotspring at Monowai volcano.

April 14
View out the porthole of Pisces V as it samples hydrothermal vent fluid from a seafloor hotspring at Monowai volcano.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spectacular tubes of lava covered in limpets wind their way down the slopes of the volcanic ridge.

April 12
Spectacular tubes of lava covered in limpets wind their way down the slopes of the volcanic ridge. (HR)

Extraordinary numbers of mussels are fighting for a piece of real estate on this rocky outcrop.

April 12
Extraordinary numbers of mussels are fighting for a piece of real estate on this rocky outcrop. (HR)

Enormous numbers of crabs were seen in the Mussel Ridge vent area often fighting over their next meal.

April 12
Enormous numbers of crabs were seen in the Mussel Ridge vent area often fighting over their next meal. (HR)

The submersible encounters a brightly colored octopus near a hydrothermal vent area at Monowai caldera.

April 12
The submersible encounters a brightly colored octopus near a hydrothermal vent area at Monowai caldera. (HR)

A basketball-sized jellyfish passes directly in front of the viewport on the Pisces V submarine.

April 12
A basketball-sized jellyfish passes directly in front of the viewport on the Pisces V submarine. (HR)

Sulfur (yellow) is associated with many of the vent sites at Mussel Ridge.

April 12
Sulfur (yellow) is associated with many of the vent sites at Mussel Ridge. (HR)

Spaghetti-like tubeworms happily living amongst mussels, anemones, a vent fish, and hungry crabs.

April 12
Spaghetti-like tubeworms happily living amongst mussels, anemones, a vent fish, and hungry crabs. (HR)

 

 

Map view of Monowai submarine volcano, featuring the cone in the south-southwest and the caldera to the northeast.

April 5
Map view of Monowai submarine volcano, featuring the cone in the south-southwest and the caldera to the northeast. (HR)

Dave Butterfield, Bob Embley, Gary Massoth, and Terry Kerby (chief Pisces pilot) discuss the hazards of diving on Monowai

April 5
Dave Butterfield, Bob Embley, Gary Massoth, and Terry Kerby (chief Pisces pilot) discuss the hazards of diving on Monowai

Terry Kerby shows the scientific party the sampling basket arrangement on the front of the sub.

April 5
Terry Kerby shows the scientific party the sampling basket arrangement on the front of the sub. (HR)

 

 

The research vessel Ka'imikai-o-Kanaloa (KOK) at the pier in Pago Pago, American Samoa.

April 3
The research vessel Ka'imikai-o-Kanaloa (KOK) at the pier in Pago Pago, American Samoa. (HR)

A closeup of the three viewports on the front of the Pisces V submersible.

April 3
A closeup of the three viewports on the front of the Pisces V submersible. (HR)

 

 

 

 

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