The selection of images below highlights some of the observations and discoveries made during the 2016 Hohonu Moana: Exploring Deep Waters off Hawaiʻi expedition.
A predatory sea star slowly works its way up a bamboo coral on an unnamed seamount in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Hohonu Moana 2016. Download larger version (915 KB).
A close up of an anemone on an unnamed seamount in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Hohonu Moana 2016. Download larger version (jpg, 819 KB).
This halosaur was seen in a submarine canyon north of French Frigate Shoals in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Hohonu Moana 2016. Download larger version (jpg, 868 KB).
This coronate jelly was seen north of Pioneer Bank in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Hohonu Moana 2016. Download larger version (jpg, 744 KB).
A squat lobster north of Pioneer Bank in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Hohonu Moana 2016. Download larger version (jpg, 1.1 MB).
While exploring at depths of over 4,000 meters northeast of Necker Island in the Hawaiian Archipelago, Deep Discoverer encountered this ghostlike octopod, which is almost certainly an undescribed species and may not belong to any described genus. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Hohonu Moana 2016. Download larger version (jpg, 1.3 MB).
Holothurians, or sea cucumbers, like this one find their food on the seafloor, but are often seen swimming in the water column between feeding sessions. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Hohonu Moana 2016. Download larger version (jpg, 392 KB).
This glass sponge was imaged on an unnamed seamount just outside the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Hohonu Moana 2016. Download larger version (jpg, 615 KB).
This brisingid sea star was imaged by Deep Discoverer while exploring an unnamed seamount just outside the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Hohonu Moana 2016. Download larger version (jpg, 975 KB).
A crinoid, sometimes also called a feather star, is perched on top of a dead coral stalk on an unnamed seamount in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Hohonu Moana 2016. Download larger version (jpg, 856 KB).
This member of the family Ophidiidae was seen cruising near the bottom north of Pioneer Bank in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Hohonu Moana 2016. Download larger version (jpg, 1.0 MB).
Great shot of the tube feet of a sea star as it moves along the seafloor. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Hohonu Moana 2016. Download larger version (jpg, 1.1 MB).
This beautiful siphonophore was seen close to the ocean bottom on an unnamed seamount just outside Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Hohonu Moana 2016. Download larger version (jpg, 565 KB).
A close-up shot of the polyps of a bamboo coral on an unnamed seamount just outside Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Hohonu Moana 2016. Download larger version (jpg, 815 KB).
This Ceriantharia anemone was imaged by Deep Discoverer in a submarine canyon north of French Frigate Shoals in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Hohonu Moana 2016. Download larger version (jpg, 990 KB).
A deepwater shrimp swims away from Deep Discoverer on an unnamed seamount just outside the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Hohonu Moana 2016. Download larger version (jpg, 416 KB).
Several solitary hydrozoans live under a small overhang along with numerous sponges, north of Pioneer Bank in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Hohonu Moana 2016. Download larger version (jpg, 750 KB).
