This beautiful hydromedusa was imaged in Washington Canyon. Unfortunately, none of the scientists watching the dive live specialized in water column life. However, due to the pace at which telepresence allows us to disseminate information, the video of this organism was quickly circulated around the country to experts in the field and the hydromedusa was identified as Cyclocanna welshi within a couple days. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 1.7 MB).
One of the many blackbelly rosefish ROV Deep Discoverer encountered in Washington Canyon. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 1.7 MB).
A skate rests along the wall of Washington Canyon. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 1.9 MB).
ROV Deep Discoverer’s lights drew a swarm of small crustaceans, and this anemone took full advantage of the free meal. Here, amphipods are captured by the specially adapted stinging cells, called nematocysts, on the anemone’s tentacles. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 1.7 MB).
Soft sedimented seafloor with anemones and red crabs was a typical landscape of the area we surveyed in Washington canyon. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 1.4 MB).
Food is a valuable commodity in the deep sea. Here, three crabs fight over a squid for their next meal. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 1.7 MB).
Cephopods on parade! In Washington Canyon, we saw several octopods and squid. Here, a small octopus is photobombed by a squid. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 1.9 MB).
Camera sled Seirios encounters a school of squid while ROV Deep Discoverer investigates Washington Canyon. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 1.5 MB).
One of the large colonies of bubblegum coral ROV Deep Discoverer imaged in Norfolk Canyon. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 1.3 MB).
A deep-sea red crab hangs out on a bubblegum coral. If you look carefully, you can see a skate egg case on the same branch as the crab and a colony of the white morph of bubblegum coral in the background. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 1.4 MB).
A small chaunx imaged in Norfolk Canyon. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 1.6 MB).
The steep ledges of Norfolk Canyon proved to be home to a large diversity of life. Here, a batstar resides on the wall next to a colony of deep-sea octocoral and sponges. The arm of several brittle stars can also be seen poking out of the sediment. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 1.5 MB).
The ROV team spends some time on the back deck planning for the next day’s dive. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 2.9 MB).
Todd Gregory introduces new personnel to the remotely operated vehicles. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 5.0 MB).
Jesse Aussebell, Jamie Austin, and Melissa Ryan engage with the shore-side science team during an ROV dive. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 1.9 MB).
The view from NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer’s control room as ROV Deep Discoverer investigates Norfolk Canyon. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 3.9 MB).
Staff at the National Aquarium welcomes Okeanos Explorer to Baltimore, Maryland. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 5.5 MB).
NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer pulls into Baltimore, Maryland, to participate in the Star-Spangled Spectacular. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 4.7 MB).
