Sea of Cortez Expedition 2010

Sea of Cortez Expedition 2010: Exploring Mexico's Submerged Landscapes

Image and Video Gallery

This page contains photos and videos associated with the Sea of Cortez Expedition 2010 expedition. Click on any image or video to view a larger version and for additional information.

Podcast

Watch/listen to a NOAA podcast on the Sea of Cortez 2010 expedition taking place in Ballena Bay.

Pneumatic corer built by research team. The airgun has a specialized head that holds a PVC pipe. The device is attached to a surface supplied airsource.

Pneumatic Corer

Pneumatic corer built by research team. The airgun has a specialized head that holds a PVC pipe.

Amy Gusick monitors her dive computer as she descends to the research location 80 ft. below sea level.

Amy Gusick monitors her dive computer as she descends to the research location 80 ft. below sea level.

Amy Gusick prepares to conduct underwater survey.

Amy Gusick prepares to conduct underwater survey.

Amy Gusick and Loren Davis (foreground), and Clint Nelson and Eric Hessel (background) sort samples collected with an airlift during a dive earlier in the day.

Sorting Samples

Sorting samples collected with an airlift during a dive earlier in the day.

Amy Gusick monitors the images from the side scan sonar to select locations that will be surveyed during the diving phase.

Selecting Locations

Amy Gusick monitors the images from the side scan sonar to select locations that will be surveyed during the diving phase.

Amy Gusick waves to the camera as she surveys a submerged rock outcrop in the Sea of Cortez.

Amy Gusick waves to the camera as she surveys a submerged rock outcrop in the Sea of Cortez.

Andy Hemmings floats in the blue water of the Sea of Cortez while conducting his dive safety stop.

Andy Hemmings floats in the blue water of the Sea of Cortez while conducting his dive safety stop.

A main focus of our research, this area now called Ballena Bay was above sea level 13,000 years ago. A late Pleistocene-age archaeological site is located on the left finger of the bay, and a paleostream channel extends onto the submerged portion of the landscape.

A main focus of our research, this area now called Ballena Bay was above sea level 13,000 years ago.

The research team collected cores and bulk samples from inside Candelero Bay. The current terrestrial portion of the bay has numerous archaeological sites, two paleostream channels that extend onto the submerged landscape, and an active fresh water source.

The research team collected cores and bulk samples from inside Candelero Bay.

This skiff was used to transport the divers to specific GPS coordinates to begin underwater survey.

Diver Transport

This skiff was used to transport the divers to specific GPS coordinates to begin underwater survey.

Dispencia Bay is located on the southern portion of the island and is the location of the oldest known archaeological site on Isla Espiritu Santo. Mangroves surround a portion of the bay.

Dispencia Bay is located on the southern portion of the island.

Eric Hessel and Clint Nelson prepare to conduct underwater survey and testing in the Sea of Cortez.

Underwater Survey

Eric Hessel and Clint Nelson prepare to conduct underwater survey and testing in the Sea of Cortez.

Eric Hessel and Clint Nelson take a few last minute notes and check their gauges as they prepare to conduct underwater survey in the Sea of Cortez.

Eric Hessel and Clint Nelson take a few last minute notes and check their gauges as they prepare to conduct survey.

The scientific diving crew and the boat crew relax after two weeks of underwater survey and sample collection. From left: (back row) Loren Davis, Josiane Dalcourt, Amy Gusick, Clint Nelson, Andy Hemmings, (front row) Eric Hessel, Kaya Chotard, Valerio Alvarez, Noel Flores, Olegario Leon Alvarez.

The scientific diving crew and the boat crew relax after two weeks of underwater survey and sample collection.

The Don Jose motor vessel as seen from the perspective of a surfacing diver.

The Don Jose motor vessel as seen from the perspective of a surfacing diver.

Michael Faught and Jose Juan (JJ) Puebla help load the float for a piece of marine sonar equipment back onto the boat.

Michael Faught and Jose Juan (JJ) Puebla help load the float back onto the boat.

Divers being transported to a specific dive location on the skiff.

Divers being transported to a specific dive location on the skiff.

Amy Gusick takes underwater video with a camera lent to the project from the National Geographic Society.

Underwater Video

Amy Gusick takes underwater video with a camera lent to the project from the National Geographic Society.

Amy Gusick and Michael Faught sit in the galley of the Don Jose and work to make sure that the images from the sonar equipment are correctly processed.

Amy Gusick and Michael Faught sit in the galley of the Don Jose.

The crew on the ship watch as the divers prepare to submerged with the airlift device.

The crew on the ship watch as the divers prepare to submerged with the airlift device.

Josiane Dalcourt lets her dive buddy know that she is OK during a safety stop after conducting underwater sample collection.

Josiane Dalcourt lets her dive buddy know that she is OK during a safety stop after conducting underwater sample collection.

Josiane Dalcourt holds the airlift tube upright as the sample from the sea floor is collected. Material is pushed up the tube with air pressure and into the bucket at the top. The larger pieces stay in the bucket while the sediment is pushed out of the screened lid.

Josiane Dalcourt

Josiane Dalcourt holds the airlift tube upright as the sample from the sea floor is collected.

Kaya Chotard ties string to a weight on one end and a plastic bottle on the other end. The weight will mark a place on the sea floor while the plastic bottle will float to the surface and act as a marker for an area that will be tested on a subsequent dive.

Kaya Chotard ties string to a weight on one end and a plastic bottle on the other end.

The waters surrounding Isla La Ballena were a main focus of our survey and testing. There is a submerged archaeological site and a submerged paleostream channel located on the northern side of the island.

Isla La Ballena

The waters surrounding Isla La Ballena were a main focus of our survey and testing.

Loren Davis demonstrates how an atlatl is used. This is a prehistoric hunting device that was the precursor to the bow and arrow.

Loren Davis demonstrates how an atlatl is used.

Loren Davis poses with a newly collected core sample in one hand and the airgun in the other.

Loren Davis poses with a newly collected core sample in one hand and the airgun in the other.

Loren Davis and Kaya Chotard prepare to use the airlift device to collect samples from the sea floor.

Collecting Samples

Loren Davis and Kaya Chotard prepare to use the airlift device to collect samples from the sea floor.

Kaya Chotard sits in the bow of the skiff while Loren Davis checks coordinates on his GPS and directs the skiff to an exact location.

Checking Coordinates

Kaya Chotard sits in the bow of the skiff while Loren Davis checks coordinates.

Loren Davis pushes sediment into the suction end of the airlift tube.

Pushing Sediment

Loren Davis pushes sediment into the suction end of the airlift tube.

Loren Davis inspects the motorized winch that was used to pull the towfish of the side scan sonar system.

Motorized Winch

Loren Davis inspects the motorized winch that was used to pull the towfish of the side scan sonar system.

The dive crew collected this bottle from the sea floor to throw it in the trash; however, once we surfaced we realized that an octopus was hiding inside. After we took a picture we threw it back in the sea.

The dive crew collected this bottle from the sea floor to throw it in the trash...

View of the lower and upper deck of the Pez Sapo dive boat. The lower deck is the dive deck, while the upper deck is used as an office with laptops set up.

View of the lower and upper deck of the Pez Sapo dive boat.

The Sea of Cortez is abundant with marine life. This solitary manta ray stayed by the boat for quite some time and impressed the crew with occasional jumps out of the water.

The Sea of Cortez is abundant with marine life.

Josiane Dalcourt stands beside a 125,000 year-old exposed relic coral reef. Pieces from this reef have been found in near-by archaeological sites where the site inhabitants used sharpened pieces of coral as tools.

Relic Coral Reef

Josiane Dalcourt stands beside a 125,000 year-old exposed relic coral reef.

View of a large portion of our submerged research area with Isla Espiritu Santo in the background.

Isla Espiritu Santo

View of a large portion of our submerged research area with Isla Espiritu Santo in the background.

Scuba equipment hangs to dry in the warm Baja California Sur sun.

Scuba Equipment

Scuba equipment hangs to dry in the warm Baja California Sur sun.

Side scan sonar image showing a shipwreck. There are a number of shipwrecks in our research area.

Side scan sonar image showing a shipwreck. There are a number of shipwrecks in our research area.

Members of the research crew wash off the side scan sonar towfish after it was loaded back onto the boat.

Side Scan Sonar

Members of the research crew wash off the side scan sonar towfish after it was loaded back onto the boat.

The scientific sonar crew and the boat crew pose for a picture onboard the Don Jose after two weeks at sea. From left: Hernan Parra Mendevil, Barbara Jackson, Loren Davis, Amy Gusick, Josefat Ortiz, Michael Faught, Jose Lozano, Kaya Chotard, Napoleon Leon, Felix Higuero, JJ Puebla.

The scientific sonar crew and the boat crew pose for a picture onboard the Don Jose after two weeks at sea.

Kaya Chotard (standing) and Loren Davis suit up as they prepare to conduct underwater survey.

Underwater Survey

Kaya Chotard (standing) and Loren Davis suit up as they prepare to conduct underwater survey.

A diver kicks out to the buoy that is marking the location of the next dive to collect an airlift bulk sample.

Airlift Bulk Sample

A diver kicks out to the buoy that is marking the location of the next dive to collect an airlift bulk sample.

Image shows side scan sonar lines merged together to form a view of the sea floor. The white lines are directional guides for the boat captain to follow in order to collected additional side scan data from locations that have gaps in the image.

Image shows side scan sonar lines merged together to form a view of the sea floor.

Loren Davis and Kaya Chotard prepare to use the airlift device to collect samples from the sea floor.

Airlift Preparation

Loren Davis and Kaya Chotard prepare to use the airlift device to collect samples from the sea floor.

Side scan image collected from Gulf of Mexico. Rocky outcrop in bottom center of image, bottom left is rock outcrop covered in sediment. During diver investigation, these area yielded cultural material.

Side Scan Image

Side scan image collected from Gulf of Mexico.

Subbottom profiler images showing reconstruction of part of the paleoAucilla in the Gulf of Mexico. Depression indicated by arrow on right is a sediment infilled paleoriver channel.

Subbottom Profiler

Subbottom profiler images showing reconstruction of part of the paleoAucilla in the Gulf of Mexico.

The research team in front of Covacha Babisuri, a late Pleistocene-age archaeological site inside of a rockshelter on Isla Espiritu Santo. The site was discovered and excavated by Harumi Fujita. From left: Loren Davis, Michael Glassow, Andy Hemmings, Harumi Fujita, Kaya Chotard, Amy Gusick, Clint Nelson, and Eric Hessel.

Loren Davis, Michael Glassow, Andy Hemmings, Harumi Fujita, Kaya Chotard, Amy Gusick, Clint Nelson, and Eric Hessel.

Side scan sonar images showing an area of rock fall along with a interesting linear rock formation that may be an ancient fishing weir. Areas like this one were targeted for further exploration during the diving phase.

Side scan sonar images showing an area of rock fall along with a interesting linear rock formation.

Clint Nelson hands Loren Davis the motor and the airhose for the airlift device. The motor is attached to an air compressor that floats on the surface and pushes air down the hose into a PVC pipe that will suction material off the sea floor.

Clint Nelson hands Loren Davis the motor and the airhose for the airlift device.

Diver operating the pneumatic corer. The airgun has a specialized head that holds a PVC pipe.

Diver operating the pneumatic corer. The airgun has a specialized head that holds a PVC pipe.

Aerial view of Isla Espíritu Santo merged with a digital elevation model of a section of the submerged landscape that shows locations of shorelines at 15,000 and 12,000 years ago.

Isla Espíritu Santo

Aerial view of Isla Espíritu Santo merged with a digital elevation model of a section of the submerged landscape.

Left image shows landscape of Ballena Bay on Isla Espiritu Santo as it looks today. Right image shows paleolandscape model of the same bay as it may have looked 12,000 years ago, with sea level 55 meters lower than current sea level.

Left image shows landscape of Ballena Bay as it looks today. Right image shows paleolandscape model of the same bay.

Bob Jackson (left) and Loren Davis visit Covacha Babisuri, a Pleistocene-age archaeological site discovered by archaeologist Harumi Fujita on Isla Espiritu Santo.

Covacha Babisuri

Bob Jackson (left) and Loren Davis visit Covacha Babisuri, a Pleistocene-age archaeological site on Isla Espiritu Santo.

Members of the field crew hike down to the beach at Ballena Bay after excavating J69E, an 11,200-year-old archaeological site on Isla Espiritu Santo.

Excavating J69E

Members of the field crew hike down to the beach at Ballena Bay after excavating an archaeological site.

Loren Davis stands on top of an exposed relict coral reef dating to the last interglacial (~125,000 BP) on Isla Espiritu Santo.

Loren Davis stands on top of an exposed relict coral reef.

Amy Gusick collects samples from a test pit 60 ft. below sea level.

Collecting Samples

Amy Gusick collects samples from a test pit 60 ft. below sea level.