Dive 06: Stetson Mesa North
Date: June 20, 2018
Location: Lat: 30.49715280°, Lon: -79.76301443°
Dive Depth Range:: 709 - 789 meters (2,326 - 2,589 feet)


Location of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer on June 20, 2018.

Location of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer on June 20, 2018. Download larger version (jpg, 337 KB).

3D view of the planned ROV track for Dive 06 shown as an orange line. The background represents the seafloor depth color-coded with slope in degrees. The warmer the color, the steeper the slope.

Three-dimensional view of the planned ROV track for Dive 06, shown as an orange line. The background represents the seafloor depth color-coded with slope in degrees; the warmer the color, the steeper the slope. Download larger version (jpg, 1.1 MB).

Dive 06: A Celebratory Dive

The dive on June 20 was the sixth of the Windows to the Deep 2018 expedition, but it also marked a major milestone for NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, as now over 400 remotely operated vehicle dives have been deployed from the ship. These dives have taken place in some of the most remote parts of Earth, and the data collected during these dives is helping to increase our understanding of the deep ocean, so that we can better manage and protect our blue planet.

Video courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Windows to the Deep 2018. Download larger version (mp4, 24.2 MB).

Today marked over 400 remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dives for NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer! Today’s dive was approximately 70 nautical miles north of and a continuation in theme of yesterday’s dive looking at the mounding features in the Blake Plateau. ROV Deep Discoverer explored a complex mound feature located in the Gulf Stream’s path, approximately 170 kilometers east of Jacksonville, Florida. Learn more about the Gulf Stream here. High-resolution multibeam bathymetry from overnight mapping, along with mapping from 2014, showed many mound features at depths ranging from 400 to 800 meters (1,312 to 2,625 feet) throughout the Stetson Mesa area. After yesterday’s dive, scientists concluded that these mounds are likely aggregations of deep-sea coral skeletal framework remains. This area has shown high habitat suitability for deep-sea corals in existing models (Kinlan et al. 2013) and diving in the area will provide important information to validate and improve these models.

The ROV was on the seafloor from 14:45:53 - 20:02:48 UTC. The dive began around 782 meters (about 2,566 feet) and ended at 712 meters (about 2,336 feet) after ascending a steep slope, around 22 degrees, of the mound and traversing across the mound’s rounded ridge to the peak. Throughout the dive, the seabed was comprised of old, iron-manganese-stained, dead coral rubble and coarse calcareous sediments made of micro-organism shell remains. Most of the area observed was rubble and sediment, with small areas of low-relief standing coral skeleton framework consisting mostly of dead Lophelia pertusa. During the dive, scientists observed various sponges including demosponges and glass sponges, as well as pancake urchins; sea stars; brittle stars; sea spiders; crabs; cutthroat eels; scorpionfish; coral hake; rattail; a skate; many coral species including octocorals, stony corals, bamboo corals, black corals, and cup corals; and a tiny blue squid at approximately 712 meters (about 2,336 feet) depth.

Biological and geological samples were collected throughout the dive and one very exciting collection was made towards the end of the dive. It was a collection of a very unusual 'tar sponge' (aptly named!) that may be genus Dercitus, which hasn't been collected in this region and is likely a range extension and/or a new species. Stay tuned for the dive summary for a more comprehensive list of the species observed during this dive.

Through telepresence capabilities of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, the mission team were able to interact live with guests on shore. NOAA’s North Atlantic Regional Team in Rhode Island and the National Geographic Labs in Maryland tuned in to the dive today and were able to ask the mission team questions live to gain deeper insights into the current mission. You can learn more about telepresence technology and our onboard telepresence coordinator and what it is like to experience from the otherside onboard the ship in this mission log. Tune in tomorrow for more live deep-sea tv as the ROV heads to an area about 140 nautical miles offshore of Savannah.

This small, blue, squid was imaged around 712 meters (about 2,336 feet) during Dive 06 in Stetson Mesa during the Windows to the Deep 2018 expedition.

This small, blue squid was imaged around 712 meters (about 2,336 feet) during Dive 06 in Stetson Mesa during the Windows to the Deep 2018 expedition. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Windows to the Deep 2018. Download larger version (jpg, 2.0 MB).

This very unusual 'tar sponge,’ potentially of the genus Dercitus, was imaged and collected during Dive 06 of the Windows to the Deep 2018 expedition. This sponge has not been imaged in this region and is likely a range extension and/or a new species.

This very unusual 'tar sponge,’ potentially of the genus Dercitus, was imaged and collected during Dive 06 of the Windows to the Deep 2018 expedition. This sponge has not been imaged in this region and is likely a range extension and/or a new species. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Windows to the Deep 2018. Download larger version (jpg, 1.7 MB).