Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific MPAs

Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific Marine Protected Areas

Image and Video Gallery

This page contains photos and videos associated with the Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific MPAs expedition. Click on any image or video to view a larger version and for additional information.

A Deeper Look

Amanda Demopoulos explains what makes the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument unique.

Predators of the Deep

Predators of the Deep

We know very little about the ecosystem dynamics of predation in the deep sea and how the food web actually fits together.

Fish of the Deep

Fish of the Deep

An overview of some of the fish seen on the 19 dives on this expedition.

Deep-sea Battle: Featherweight Division

Deep-sea Battle

Scientsts witnessed this fierce battle between a caridean shrimp and a type of midwater dragonfish.

Land of Giants

Scientists encountered several large coral colonies, some of which were more than 1.5 meters across.

A Wall of Stars

A Wall of Stars

This incredible "living wall" of crinoids, or feather stars, was observed on a steep slope along the western side of unnamed seamount.

Hadal Holothurians: The Sea Pig

Sea pigs are deep-sea holothurians belonging to the family Elpidiidae. This sea pig was seen during the deepest dive for the expedition.

Hadal Holothurians: The Wizard

This "monster" of a sea cucumber, or holothurian, was nearly 40 centimeters (15.75 inches) long!

Velvet Whalefish

Velvet Whalefish

This velvet whalefish was observed for the first time this expedition. It belongs to the species Barbourisia rufa, rufa for red.

Dumbo Octopus

This dumbo octopus was observed resting on the seafloor.

Titov Seamount

Check out some of the very interesting undersea creatures observed during our second dive at Titov Seamount.

A Snack for a Sea Spider

A Snack for a Sea Spider

On March 20, a sea spider was observed snacking on a cup coral along a steep slope on the southern ridge of Baker Island.

An Egg-cellent Find

An Egg-cellent Find

This round purple object is an octopod egg. It was seen while exploring at a depth of ~2,215 meters near Howland Island.

The Bashful Octopus

The Bashful Octopus

The ROV encountered this octopus, who did his best to hide, first by burrowing into the sediment and then by changing color.

Bubblegum Coral and Brittle Star

Bubblegum Coral

Paragorgia are octocorals. Their common name, bubblegum coral, comes from their pink color.

Pelagic Sea Cucumber

Pelagic Sea Cucumber

This beautiful pelagic sea cucumber was seen swimming above the seafloor during a dive near Howland Island.

A Fish Called Roughy

A Fish Called Roughy

This fish is a roughy; it gets its named from the rough armor-like plates on its head.

Iridigorgia Corals

Iridigorgia Corals

Iridigorgia are soft corals that grow upwards in a striking spiral pattern.

Deepwater Siphonophore

Deepwater Siphonophore

On March 14, during the sixth dive of the expedition, this intact deepwater siphonophore was observed.

A Peek at Polyps

A Peek at Polyps

This video offers a look at some of the colonial coral polyps seen while exploring Polo Seamount.

Goosefish

This angler fish was seen perched on a rock while we were exploring an unnamed seamount.

Coral Hotspot

On March 11, scientists explored Carondelet Reef within the Phoenix Islands Protected Area.

Sixgill Sharks

On March 10, 2017, the second dive of the expedition, two sixgill sharks are seen swimming together.

Long-armed Squid

Long-armed Squid

During the first dive, we encountered this long-armed squid swimming in the water column.

Shipboard Mission Team

Shipboard Mission Team

The shipboard mission team poses on the bow of the Okeanos Explorer as the expedition comes to an end.

Back Deck Sunset

Back Deck Sunset

Sunset seen from the back deck of the Okeanos Explorer as the ship heads back to Apia, Samoa.

Heterocarpus

A caridean shrimp was observed feeding on a type of mid-water dragonfish, possible a stareater, at around 998 meters.

Crabs Holding Claws

Crabs Holding Claws

Two homolid crabs were observed holding claws at around 757 meters depth.

Bubblegum Coral

Bubblegum Coral

Deep Discoverer collected a bubblegum coral with encrusting zoanthid.

Ghost Fish

For the first time this expedition, a chimaera, or ghost fish, was observed at around 1,850 meters depth.

Gold Coral Colonies

Gold Coral Colonies

Several gold coral colonies were observed for the first time on this expedition on this dive within the Phoenix Islands Protected Area.

Pencil Urchins

Several pencil urchins were seen clinging to corals, likely consuming soft tissue and leaving the bare coral skeleton visible on several branches.

Octopus

An unknown octopus with a small node on its head was observed crawling along the seafloor at around 475 meters depths.

Purple Holothurian

Purple Holothurian

The purple holothurian feeds on organic sediment deposits on the rocky substrate.

Monoplacophoran

Monoplacophoran

A rare mollusc, called a monoplacophoran, was observed at ~5,771 meters depth on the hard pavement of a sedimented plateau.

Velvet Whalefish

Velvet Whalefish

A velvet whalefish covered with gnathiid isopod parasites was observed for the first time this expedition at ~1,300 meters.

Rattail Relative

Rattail Relative

This Gadomus sp. is related to the rattails, characterized by long, thin projections on its fins.

Cirrate Octopod

Cirrate Octopod

A rare deep-sea cirrate octopod uses its fins on either side of its head to gracefully propel itself through the water column.

Whalefish

Another first for the expedition and a rare find, the whalefish, less than 10 centimeteres in length.

Sea Cucumber

An unknown sea cucumber was observed hanging out on the rock surface.

Oreo Fish

An oreo fish with characteristic spines on the nose was observed at ~ 1,151 meters depth.

Swimming Sea Cucumber

Swimming Sea Cucumber

A sea cucumber lifts off from the sediment and takes a swim.

Carnivorous Sea Spider

Carnivorous Sea Spider

A carnivorous sea spider was observed feeding off of a cup coral.

Octopod Egg Case

Octopod Egg Case

Close up of a cirrate octopod egg case (brown) and inner chorion (purple).

Shrimp

A nematocarcinid shrimp uses stilt-like legs to walk along rocks and the sediment.

Pearlfish

This pearlfish represents a range extension for this newly described genus.

Narcomedusa Jelly

Narcomedusa Jelly

A narcomedusa jelly was observed close to the seafloor, at ~ 560 meters depth.

Glass Sponge Spicules

Glass Sponge Spicules

A close-up of the icicle-like matrix of glass sponge spicules with a shrimp perched inside.

Snailfish

This snailfish was observed on the dive at 2,360 meters depth; snailfish were previously unknown from the region.

Pelagic Holothurian

Pelagic Holothurian

This pelagic holothurian lives its entire life in the water column, relying on suspended particles for its food.

Roughy

The armor-like appearance of the roughy is where it got its name.

Limid Bivalves

Suspension-feeding limid bivalves were found attached to the interior of eroded caves along steep slope.

Titov Seamount

Bird's-eye view of Titov Seamount. Our dive was along the western ridge line, or tail of the seamount feature.

Squat Lobster

Close up of a chirostylid squat lobster perched on a black coral.

Octocoral

The curly-cue shape is a characteristic of this chrysogorgid octocoral, called Iridogorgia.

Seastar

A new seastar for the expedition was spotted at the base of a large octocoral at the end of the dive.

Green-blue Octocoral

Green-blue Octocoral

An unusual green-blue octocoral was spotted at the end of the dive, populated with crinoids and brittle stars.

Hake

A large hake swims past a crinoid.

Polo Seamount

A glass sponge seen on Polo Seamount.

Squid

Squid holding onto another squid; it remains unclear whether this is active predation or mating behavior.

Stalked Crinoid

Stalked Crinoid

D2 gently grasps a stalked crinoid for a collection. This crinoid species had previously only been observed off Indonesia.

White Precious Coral

White Precious Coral

White precious coral and rock collected from the seafloor for coral identification and seamount age analysis.

Carondelet Reef

Carondelet Reef

Precious corals, like this species of Hemicorallium, were common at depths explored on Carondelet Reef.

Bamboo Coral

One bamboo coral observed at Carondelet Reef was truly a behemoth!

Sixgill Sharks

A male and female sixgill sharks swim together. The female shark was 13 - 15 feet in length.

Barrel Sponge

A barrel sponge that has fallen on the sediment.

Geomorphology

Multibeam bathymetry of Pao Pao Seamount and an unnamed guyot shows one example of nearby seamounts with different geomorphology.

Deep-sea Coral Garden

Deep-sea Coral Garden

This deep-sea coral garden at Swains Island hosts numerous species of corals and coral-relatives.

Long-armed Squid

Long-armed Squid

A long-armed squid in the genus Chiroteuthis swims in front of Deep Discoverer.

Port of Apia, Samoa

Port of Apia, Samoa

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer docked at the pier at the Port of Apia in Samoa.

Expedition Summary

Expedition Summary

Overview map showing seafloor bathymetry collected and ROV dives conducted during the expedition.

Videographers

The women behind the highlight reels, Caitlin Bailey, Annie White, and Emily Narrow, onboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer.

Annie White

Annie White is taking still photos of the crew and staff on the Okeanos Explorer while they go about their daily tasks.

Emily Narrow

Emily Narrow enjoying the sunset after finishing her highlight video for the day on board the Okeanos Explorer.

Caitlin Bailey

Caitlin Bailey is working in the shading chair on the Okeanos Explorer. From this chair, she can control the zoom, focus, and exposure of the remotely operated vehicle cameras.

Sea Star

This Zoroaster sea star was imaged during the second dive at Titov Seamount of this expedition.

Benthopectinidae

Benthopectinidae

This Cheiraster (Benthopectinidae) sea star was imaged on an unnamed seamount in the Tokelau Seamount Chain.

Benthopectinidae II

Benthopectinidae II

This benthopectinid sea star was also imaged during Dive 04 of the expedition at an unnamed seamount in the Tokelau Seamount Chain.

Coral Predator

This Coral Predator Calliaster in the family Goniasteridae was imaged predating on a bamboo coral at Titov Seamount.

Deep-sea Slime Star

Deep-sea Slime Star

This deep-sea slime star in the genus Hymenaster was imaged during Dive 07 at Titov Seamount.

Howland Island Slime Star

Howland Island Slime Star

This slime star was imaged during Dive 09 of this expedition.

Sea Star Burrowing

Sea Star Burrowing

This sea star burrowing itself in the sand was imaged during Dive 04 of the expedition at an unnamed seamount in the Tokelau Seamount Chain.

Cookie Star

This Ceramaster "cookie star" was imaged during Dive 03 of this expedition at Carondelet Reef.

Cookie Star II

This Plinthaster "cookie" sea star was imaged during Dive 10 of this expedition, at a shallow site within Howland Island.

Purple Porpoise Certificate

Purple Porpoise Certificate

The Ancient Order of the Purple Porpoise certificate received after crossing the junction of the Equator and the International Date Line at the Sacred Hour of the Vernal Equinox.

Bluntose Sixgill Shark

Bluntose Sixgill Shark

A bluntnose sixgill shark swims down after being tagged with a multi-instrument tag package.

Tagged

A bluntnose sixgill shark is tagged with an accelerometer/magnetometer camera logger by Dr. Carl Meyer and Dr. Itsumi Nakamura off Hawaii.

Shark Release

A sixgill shark is released after tagging in deep waters off Kaneohe, Hawaii.

VSAT

The VSAT (large dome; stands for "Very Small Aperture Terminal") is the critical piece of infrastructure that makes telepresence possible.

Flow of Information

Flow of Information

This diagram describes the flow of information from the seafloor and ultimately to viewers around the world.

Telepresence

A visual depiction of the process of telepresence.

Robotic Arm

Here you can see the deployment of the left robotic arm of ROV Deep Discoverer with the Color Chip Chart on its wrist.

Before And After Images

Before And After Images

Even after color calibration, we still require further color corrections when we edit, as seen in these before and after images.

Color Chip Chart

Color Chip Chart

This is a close up of the Deep Discoverer’s Custom Color Chip Chart.

Quad-Split

This Quad-Split image shows multiple cameras and windows that we use during the daily camera color calibration procedure.

Video Shading Station

Video Shading Station

This is a look at the Video Shading Station during the Camera Color Calibration Procedure.

Mapping Personnel

Mapping Personnel

Mapping personnel on the expedition: Mapping Lead Derek Sowers, Watch Lead Jason Meyer, and Survey Technician Charles Wilkins.

Raw Multibeam Sonar

Raw Multibeam Sonar

Raw multibeam sonar data of an underwater mountain visualized in 3D computer software.

Ship-based Ocean Mapping

Ship-based Ocean Mapping

Example highlighting the importance of ship-based ocean mapping work by comparing satellite-derived bathymetry with multibeam data.

Fisheries Sonar

Fisheries Sonar

Example image of echogram from EK60 fisheries sonar.

Sub-bottom Profiler

Sub-bottom Profiler

Image of sub-bottom profiler echogram.

ADCP Vector Plot

ADCP Vector Plot

Example of an ADCP vector plot.

Women On Board

The women on board the Okeanos Explorer during the expedition.

Dr. Amanda Demopoulos

Dr. Amanda Demopoulos

Co-host of “Deep-sea TV,” Dr. Amanda Demopoulos.

Expedition Operating Area

Expedition Operating Area

Map showing the general expedition operating area.

Deep Discoverer (D2)

Deep Discoverer (D2)

ROV Deep Discoverer (D2) will be used to acquire high-definition visual data.

Telepresence Technology

Telepresence Technology

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer uses telepresence technology to transmit data in real-time.

Operational Areas

Operational Areas

Overview of Marine National Monuments and operational areas for CAPSTONE.

PRIMNM

PRIMNM provides broad scale protections to marine ecosystems within its boundaries.

Manta Ray

Manta ray at Baker Island.

Anemone

Anemone and clown fish at Baker Island.

Sea Toad

A sea toad, which is a fish that can "walk," waits for its next meal to swim by.

Kingman Reef Corals

Kingman Reef Corals

Healthy corals at Kingman Reef.

Phoenix Islands Protected Area

Phoenix Islands Protected Area

Bathymetric map detailing the seamounts and submerged reefs.

Shallow-water Corals

Shallow-water Corals

Carpets of shallow-water corals use photosynthetic energy to build reefs.

Giant Clams

Giant clams symbiotically photosynthesize in a shallow, sun-drenched lagoon.

Orona Atoll

Uninhabited and fully protected shores of Orona Atoll.

Intact Food Web

Intact Food Web

Thriving coral reefs are home to an intact food web.

Enderbury Atoll

Enderbury Atoll

Shallow canyons, observed on SCUBA looking up at the surface waters of Enderbury Atoll.

Nearby Seamounts

Nearby Seamounts

Multibeam bathymetry of Pao Pao Seamount.