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Gulf of Mexico 2017

Gulf of Mexico 2017

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Gulf of Mexico 2017
Daily Updates

Daily Updates

The updates below summarize daily activities on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer during the Gulf of Mexico 2017 expedition, with accompanying images and videos.

Sunrise over the back of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer.

December 21, 2017: Expediton Complete

Expedition Complete

A red crab sits on a piece of carbonate near a methane seep. The crab is laden with eggs, which are visible on her underside.

December 20, 2017: Dive 17

Dive 17: Horne Dome

Paroriza pallens sea cucumbers were the most frequently encountered large deposit feeders on this dive. The species is hermaphroditic and was often observed in pairs such as this one. The nature of the shaggy filaments hanging from the flanks of these sea cucumbers remains a mystery.

December 19, 2017: Dive 16

Dive 16: Dauphin Dome

The giant isopod, Bathynomus giganteus, at its burrow tunnel, accompanied by a hitchhiking spider crab, at a depth of 545 meters (1,788 feet).

December 18, 2017: Dive 15

Dive 15: Gulfoil

The tripod fish, Bathypterois viridensis, with parasitic isopods attached to two of its fins. Tripod fishes rest on the seafloor on the tips of elongated rays of their pelvic and lower caudal fins. They use the elongated rays of their pectoral fins as sensory “antennae” that project out and forward as the fish sits facing into the current.

December 17, 2017: Dive 14

Dive 14: “Penchant Basin”

A cerianthid burrowing anemone builds a tube in the sediment out of secreted fine threads and mucus, which it can withdraw rapidly into and completely for protection.

December 16, 2017: Dive 13

Dive 13: “Tunica Mound”

After being blown out to sea, this pelican landed on the ship to catch his breath.

December 15, 2017: Weathered Out

Weathered Out (Again)

A hormathiid anemone and hydroids on the underside of the shipping container.

December 14, 2017: Dive 12

Dive 12: “Wreck 15727” and Midwater Exploration

The coiled tip of an isidid bamboo coral whip (Lepidisis caryophyllia) found growing out of a sediment substrate.

December 13, 2017: Dive 11

Dive 11: “KC560/603”

Hariotta raleighana, a long-nosed chimaera, dropped by during the dive. This was the first time many on board has seen one!

December 12, 2017: Dive 10

Dive 10: Green Canyon Area, St. Tammany Basin

Two deep-sea male red crabs, Chaceon quinquedens, go claw-to-claw in an apparent duel for the affections of a nearby female. At least, that’s how we interpreted their behavior.

December 11, 2017: Dive 09

Dive 09: “Henderson Ridge Mid South”

A hermit crab (Paguroidea sp.) with an anemone that substitutes for a shell.

December 10, 2017: Dive 08

Dive 08: “AT251”

First view of the wreck’s bow outlined by the remnant copper sheathing, with one hawse pipe in foreground and another just aft of the stempost at right. Also visible are white colonies of the stony coral Lophelia pertusa (on the stempost and at far left) and numerous duckbill eels.

December 9, 2017: Dive 07

Dive 07: Wreck 15377

The calm before the storm: The cold front passes over the ship.

December 6-8, 2017: Weathered Out

A Metallogorgia sp. octocoral with a commensal serpent star (Ophiocreas sp.). It is suspected that these two species require each others’ presence to survive!

December 5, 2017: Dive 06

Dive 06: “Smooth Escarpment Ridge”

Umbellula sea pens are sediment dwellers. This one has a mysid keeping it company. Mysids are commonly known as opossum shrimp, because they have brood pouches. You can catch a glimpse of the full red brood pouch as two red dots on either side of this mysid’s midsection.

December 4, 2017: Dive 05

Dive 05: “Incised Escarpment Ridge”

Umbellula sea pens are sediment dwellers. This one has a mysid keeping it company. Mysids are commonly known as opossum shrimp, because they have brood pouches. You can catch a glimpse of the full red brood pouch as two red dots on either side of this mysid’s midsection.

December 3, 2017: Dive 04

Dive 04: “Long Mounds”

Remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer investigates some of the striking geology seen during the dive.

December 2, 2017: Dive 03

Dive 03: “Okeanos Ridge”

We observed several of these tripod fish (Bathypterois sp.) perched on their fins and facing into the current, waiting for food to drift by.

December 1, 2017: Dive 02

Dive 02: “Escarpment Canyon”

A chirostylid squat lobster hangs out in an octocoral fan (Paramuricea sp.) that has been overgrown with colonial anemones (zoanthids).

November 30, 2017: Dive 01

Dive 01: “South Reed”

A chirostylid squat lobster hangs out in an octocoral fan (Paramuricea sp.) that has been overgrown with colonial anemones (zoanthids).

November 29, 2017: Underway

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Gulf of Mexico 2018
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