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Gulf of Mexico 2018

Gulf of Mexico 2018

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Gulf of Mexico 2018
Daily Updates

Daily Updates

The updates below summarize daily activities on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer during the Gulf of Mexico 2018 expedition, with accompanying images and videos.

Mission Personnel from the Gulf of Mexico 2018 expedition gather on the bow of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer at the end of a successful mission.

Arrival in Key West, Florida

At the beginning of the dive, squid (Illex sp.) were common.

Dive 15: Pourtales Terrace Sinkhole

A very high density of bamboo corals and glass sponges were observed towards the end of the dive. To date, these are among the deepest high-density communities recorded in the Gulf of Mexico.

Dive 14: Escarpment Canyon Ridge

A goniasterid seastar, possibly a Circeaster sp. or Sibogaster sp., was seen feeding on a Bathypathes sp. black coral – this is the first time a sea star has ever been recorded feeding on a black coral.

Dive 13: Southern West Florida Escarpment Ridge and Midwater Transects

When water flows through pores in carbonate rock, dissolution can happen, causing these dramatic overhangs. Three different primnoid coral species are on top of this rock, which became the dominant fauna upslope.

Dive 12: South of Okeanos Ridge

Western roughy (Hoplostethus occidentalis) are a long-lived deepwater fish found all the way from Nova Scotia to Brazil.

Dive 11: South of Long Mounds and Midwater Transects

This sea star (Dytaster sp.) has pointed tube feet which allow it to move quickly on the sediment. Sea stars were common at the beginning of Dive 10.

Dive 10: West Florida Escarpment Bend

D2’s lights were turned off to see if this Ipnops murrayi tripod fish exhibited bioluminescence in its eyespots. It did not, which provides very valuable information in understanding the function of these conspicuous eyes.

Dive 09: Northern End of West Florida Escarpment

Pythonaster seastar feeding on a glass sponge.

Dive 08: Northern West Florida Escarpment, De Soto Canyon Region

Crewmembers of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer on the bridge as the ship departs Pascagoula, Mississippi.

Repairs Complete – Departing Pascagoula and Transiting to the West Florida Escarpment

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer at the dock in Pascagoula, Mississippi, for necessary repairs to the port engine.

April 22-23, 2018

Pascagoula for Engine Repairs

Gulf of Mexico sunrise from NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer.

Transit to Pascagoula, Mississippi, for Motor Repairs

Patches of chemosynthetic communities were occasionally observed throughout the dive, which included high densities of siboglinid tubeworms.

Dive 07: Mud Volcano in WR 488

ROV Deep Discoverer observed a small (1.2 meter diameter) brine pool at 1,067 meters (3,500 feet) depth.

Dive 06: Hidalgo Basin

One of the most commonly observed organisms on Dive 05 was this sea pen, an Umbellula species with four large polyps.

Dive 05: North Wall of Perdido Canyon

When this currently unidentified squid (possibly Discoteuthis sp.) was observed, it appeared to be curled in upon itself with its arms folded in what may be a defensive posture. What appears to be the beak is visible towards the lower part of the center of the animal and is slightly lighter in color than the body. The behavior seen in this picture was described as “probably the most bizarre squid I’ve ever seen” by our cephalopod expert, Mike Vecchione.

Dive 04: Unnamed mound in EB 1009

Male skate (Fenestraja sp.) with attached parasitic isopod seen towards the beginning of the dive.

Dive 03: Unnamed Ridge in GC973

Wave behind remotely operated vehicle Seirios. With high wind and seas, the dive was canceled today.

Rough Weather Continues

Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration ROV engineer, Dan Rogers, performs maintenance on Deep Discoverer’s starboard lower lightbar swingarm.

Numerous Munidopsis squat lobsters were observed on the unidentified wreck.

Dive 02: Engineering and Cultural Heritage

Bow and view into the hull of what is believed to be the wreck of the tugboat New Hope.

Dive 01: Engineering and Cultural Heritage

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer at port in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

Embarking on the Gulf of Mexico 2018 Expedition

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