Image and Video Gallery: 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration - Remotely Operated Vehicle and Mapping Operations: NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research

This infographic provides a snapshot of the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration by the numbers.

Summary Infographic

This infographic provides a snapshot of the expedition by the numbers.

During the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration, we were lucky enough to explore two mound features that revealed extensive, healthy <em>Lophelia</em> coral reefs.

Ancient Coral Gardens

During the expedition, we found extensive, healthy Lophelia coral reefs.

Mission Team and Crew

The mission team and crew gathered for a group photo.

On November 20, 2019, NOAA Ship <em>Okeanos Explorer</em> pulled into port in Key West, Florida

In Port

On November 20, 2019, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer pulled into Key West.

This giant isopod (<em>Bathynomous gigantus</em>) was seen snacking on a fish head during Dive 11.

Dive 12: Schaefer's Anglerfish

Video of the goosefish seen during Dive 12.

Flapjack Devilfish

Everyone loves a flapjack devilfish. We observed this one during Dive 12.

This chimera, at roughly 50 centimeters (20 inches), was the largest and darkest we saw during the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration.

Chimaera

This chimera was the largest and darkest we saw during the expedition.

Goosefish

This goosefish was among the first and favorite animals seen during Dive .

Octocoral

This octocoral was seen on a largely sparse seafloor.

Octocoral

Like most octocorals, this Swiftia, which was seen During Dive 12.

Black Coral

Black corals were seen during most, if not all, of the dives.

Dive 11: Winner, Winner, Fish Head Dinner

This giant isopod was seen snacking on a fish head during Dive 11.

Loose Sediment

The loose sediments on the top of this boulder are rimmed by an outer layer of more durable encrusted limestone.

Glass Sponge

This glass sponge was covered with yellow zoanthids and surrounded by a variety of colorful soft corals.

Giant Isopod

This is one of two giant isopods (Bathynomous giganteus) seen during Dive 11.

Crinoid

The sea lily shown here is a stalked crinoid.

Sea Cucumber

Deep-sea swimming sea cucumbers are sometimes seen on the seafloor and sometimes in the water column.

Deep Discoverer

ROV Deep Discoverer explores some interesting, yet potentially dangerous, geology.

Gulf Stream Model

The Gulf Stream direction and magnitude is modeled by the U.S. Navy Coastal Ocean Model.

The conditions on November 14, 2019 were unfavorable for diving.

ADCP Data

The conditions on November 14 were unfavorable for diving.

Marine Life

Marine life was both abundant and diverse on the Central Blake Plateau.

From fish and shrimp to sponges, octopods, and corals, exploring with ROVs provides an unprecedented look at life on the seafloor.

Dive 10: Here Comes the (Sun)fish

Video of the ocean sunfish seen during Dive 10.

Overhang

The overhangs visited during Dive 10 were covered with life, both on top and underneath.

Ocean Sunfish

A visit from this ocean sunfish (Mola mola) was one of the highlights of Dive 10.

Swallowtail Bass

This colorful swallowtail bass (Anthias woodsi) was observed on Dive 10.

Sponges and Corals

A number of different sponges and corals were seen thriving and living in harmony on this ledge explored during Dive 10.

Squat Lobster

This painted yeti squat lobster was observed carrying off a piece of glass sponge during Dive 10.

Unexpected Sight

Among a number of unexpected sights during Dive 10 was this pencil sea urchin on top of a glass sponge on top of a demosponge.

Fishing Line

Fishing line, both old and new, seen entangled on this fan coral.

Squid

These troublemaking squid were our constant companions during Dive 09.

Sea Cucumber

This pink sea cucumber was spotted during Dive 09.

Seen here during Dive 09 of the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration, some amphiphods (Amathillopsidae) perched on the spicules of a glass sponge (Hyalonema).

Amphipods and Glass Sponge

Some amphipods perched on the spicules of a glass sponge.

Predation

An unidentified Henricia sea star feeding on a Chondrocladia carnivorous sponge.

This carnivorous demosponge was one of two collected from the genus Chondrocladia during Dive 09 of the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration as possible new species.

Carnivorous Sponge

This carnivorous demosponge was one of two collected during Dive 09.

A number of these unusual looking creatures were seen on the seafloor during Dive 09 of the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration.

Armored Searobin

These armored searobins use modified fins to move across the seafloor.

Eyes on the Seafloor

Exploring with ROVs provides an unprecedented look at life on the seafloor.

Sponges and Squid

Sponges and squid were quite prevalent during Dive 08.

Blind Lobster

We saw a number of blind lobsters during Dive 08.

The Blind and Frozen Hunter

Video of the blind lobster fishing for prey.

Sponges

During Dive 08, we collected three carnivorous sponges that may be previously unknown species.

Marbled Catshark

This marbled catshark (Galeus arae) was observed during Dive 08.

Cookie Star

This cookie star seen during Dive 08 is likely a Plinthaster dentatus.

We saw more human debris on Dive 08 of the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration than on any of the expedition’s previous dives.

Marine Debris

We saw more human debris on Dive 08 than on any of the expedition’s previous dives.

Shannon

Shannon Hoy replenishes the expendable bathythermographs (XBTs) in the XBT auto-launcher.

Live Interaction

Stephanie Farrington and Kimberly Galvez prepare for a live interaction.

Stephanie Farrington, Kimberly Galvez, and Mike White enjoying the discussion with marine science students at the Peddie School during the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration.

Live Interaction

Stephanie Farrington, Kimberly Galvez, and Mike White enjoy a discussion with marine science students.

Deep Discoverer and Seirios

In this illustration, ROVs Deep Discoverer and Seirios explore the seafloor and water column.

Lophelia Coral

This Lophelia pertusa deep-sea coral reef was seen on Dive 06.

This screenshot of the Deep-sea Corals theme page is just one example of the many educational resources available on the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research’s education web presence.

Web Page

A screenshot of the Deep-sea Corals theme page.

Professional Development Workshop

During a professional development workshop, educators built a model of methane hydrate.

Rough Seas

While a rough ocean is still a beautiful ocean, it can hamper remotely operated vehicle operations.

ROV Maintenance

Levi Unema, electrical engineer, examines electronics that support ROV operations.

Glass Sponge

This glass sponge (Aphrocallistes beatrix) was seen during Dive 02.

Sample Collection

This glass sponge was collected during Dive 06.

Glass Sponge

This glass sponge (Euplectellidae) was seen during Dive 05.

Glass Sponge

This glass sponge (Euplectellidae) was collected during Dive 04.

Demosponge

This demosponge (Oceanapia) was sampled during Dive 02.

Demosponge

This demosponge (Oceanapia) was seen during Dive 02.

Taking advantage of weather days during the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration (EX1907), the Mapping Team was able to fill in an unmapped area and merge it with mapping data from three previous NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer missions.

Bathymetry

The Mapping Team was able to fill in an unmapped area and merge it with other mapping data.

Dive 07 of the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration took us to an underwater landscape much different than that seen on the expedition's previous dives.

Seafloor

Dive 07 took us to an underwater landscape much different than previous dives.

Corallimorph

While corallimorphs are usually found on rocks, this one was seen hanging out on a demosponge.

Jelly

This jelly put on quite a show while it was feeding during Dive 07.

Dive 07: Twitchy Jelly

Video of the jelly seen during Dive 07.

Demosponge

This intricate demosponge is representative of the most common type of sponge seen during Dive 07.

Bathymetry Data

This map shows the Deep Sea Ventures site with bathymetry data from the Okeanos Explorer.

Seafloor

Most of the seafloor explored during Dive 07 was covered with these manganese nodules.

Cusk Eel

A cusk eel swims along the seafloor in the area of the Deep Sea Ventures site.

"Patio Block"

In the 1980s, the U.S. Geological Survey marked the Deep Sea Ventures site with approximately 100 concrete “patio blocks.”

Lophelia

Deep-sea coral reefs like this one are created by stony corals.

Demosponge

We saw this large demosponge during the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration.

Bird Squid

This bird squid is holding its tentacles close to its body.

Sea Fan

During Dive 06, we encountered a number of gorgonians, including this yellow sea fan.

Brisingid Sea Star

Initially mistaken for a sea feather, this pink 12-armed animal is actually a brisingid sea star.

Mesh Fan

Our scientists were unable to identify this yellow mesh fan, so we collected it so we can learn more about it.

The high diversity of the Lophelia reefs seen for the first time during Dive 06 of the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration is evident in this image, which features a variety of Lophelia inhabitants.

Habitat

The high diversity of the Lophelia reefs is evident in this image.

During Dive 06 of the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration, we observed this male sea spider, pycnogonid, carrying babies on his back.

Dive 06: Big Daddy Sea Spider

During Dive 06, we observed this male sea spidern carrying babies on his back.

The predatory ribbonfish, or cutlassfish, stays vertical in the water column as it hunts.

Dive 05: Ribbonfish

Ribbonfish, or cutlassfish, seen during Dive 05.

Cutlassfish

The predatory cutlassfish stays vertical in the water column as it hunts.

Urchin

This pencil sea urchin is a good example of the sea urchins we’ve observed in this region.

Demosponge

This demosponge is just one of the many sponges we saw during Dive 05.

Sponge

We sampled this interesting “potato chip-like” glass sponge.

Dive 04: Dragon Fish Charms ROV

The dragonfish captured in this video is Melanostomias melanops.

Octopus

This octopus greeted us when we arrived at the seafloor on Dive 04.

Bamboo Coral

Bamboo corals like this one are colonial, which means that each polyp is a separate animal.

Feather Star

The purplish color of this feather star is distinctive of its species.

Arrowhead Dogfish

This arrowhead dogfish, a shark, was observed during Dive 04.

Sponge

Referred to by our science leads as a “Swiss cheese” sponge, this amphitheater-shaped demosponge was successfully collected during Dive 04.

Landscape

This glimpse of the seafloor during Dive 03 is indicative of the landscape that was seen during much of the dive.

Although they may be hard to see with the naked eye, these animals play an important role in the overall deep-sea ecosystem.

Dive 03: Small Is Mighty

These small animals play an important role in the overall deep-sea ecosystem.

Sponge

Small piles of sand were seen behind the larger elephant ear sponges.

Shortnose Greeneye

We observed this shortnose greeneye as it swam along the coral rubble.

Tree Coral

We came across this shingled tree coral and its numerous associates.

Seirios

ROV Seirios gets a shower after a hard day’s work exploring the deep sea for Dive 03.

Jelly

A colorful jelly extends its tentacles to feed in the water column during our midwater transects.

Twirling Jelly

We encountered this charismatic swimming jelly twisting and tumbling.

This big medusa jellfyish belongs to the genus <em>Cyanea</em>.

Blooming Jelly

This big medusa jellfyish belongs to the genus Cyanea.

Hydromedusa

Hydromedusa near “Keli’ihananui” Seamount in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.

Red Jelly

Coronate jelly north of Pioneer Bank in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

Jelly

Unusual jellyfish in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.

Trachymedusae along the west wall of Mona Canyon off the northwest coast of Puerto Rico.

Jellyfish

Trachymedusae along off the northwest coast of Puerto Rico.

Narcomedusa Jelly

Narcomedusa jelly in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.

Jelly

Unusual jellyfish off northeast coast of the United States.

Jelly

We saw this jellyfish on Dive 02 of the current expedition.

Grumpy Goosefish

The “grumpy goosefish” (Lophiodes beroe) is an angler fish that prefers to live at very dimly lit depths.

Coral Garden

We visited this beautiful coral garden on the top of the ridge during Dive 02.

Anemone

This flytrap anemone was caught hanging out on a black coral branch during Dive 02.

Stalked Crinoid

Stalked crinoids like this one are abundant farther south.

Glass Sponge

On Dive 02, we came across this unusual glass sponge with a fringe of large spicules at its base.

ROV Launch

ROV Deep Discoverer is launched by the team of onboard engineers for Dive 02.

ROV Recovery

Our team of engineers recovers ROV Deep Discoverer at night after Dive 02

This snail (neogastropod) and feather star (crinoid) pair were spotted during Dive 01.

Snail and Feather Star

This snail and feather star pair were spotted during Dive 01.

Pilots on board NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer guide ROV Deep Discoverer’s manipulator arms to grab a sample of a sponge (porifera) and its associates during Dive 01.

Sample Collection

Pilots guide ROV Deep Discoverer’s manipulator arms to grab a sample.

Glass Sponge

This glass sponge (Sympagella nux) was seen during Dive 01.

Crinoids

Five crinoids, which may represent a new subspecies, hang on a rope from a ghost net.

During Dive 01 of the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration, we explored the Stetson-Miami Terrace Deep Water Coral Habitat Area of Particular Concern.

Dive 01: Exploring HAPCs

During Dive 01, we explored the Stetson-Miami Terrace Deep Water Coral Habitat Area of Particular Concern.

During Windows to the Deep 2019, the team dove on two of these newly revealed mounds and encountered what was described as one of the largest aggregates of thickets of <em>Lophelia</em> coral seen to date in the region.

The Coral Highway

One of the largest aggregates of thickets of Lophelia coral seen in the region.

Deep Sea Dumpling

Bobtails like this one are not squids, nor are they modified cuttlefish.

Crinoid

A specimen like this crinoid was collected during Windows to the Deep 2019.

Hermit Crab

This hermit crab was seen carrying an anemone on its back.

Prior to Windows to the Deep 2018, this section of the Blake Escarpment appeared to be an area of low slope with no distinct features.

Corals and Sponges

This section of the Blake Escarpment previously appeared to have no distinct features.

Anglerfish

Anglerfish have a small lure they wiggle in order to attract prey.

Basket Star

This basket star perched on a bamboo coral was observed during Windows to the Deep 2018.

Octopus

This octopus was seen making its way across the seafloor during Windows to the Deep 2019.

Sea Star

The goniasterid sea star Plinthaster dentatus.

Squat Lobster and Sponge

This squat lobster and glass sponge were seen during Windows to the Deep 2018.

During Windows to the Deep 2018, we observed this lithodid crab, a type of king crab, feasting on a brittle star.

Bad Day

We observed this lithodid crab feasting on a brittle star.

Bathymetry

Mapping during the transit to the first dive site revealed interesting pockmarks.

Brittle Star

An ophiuroid brittle star hangs out in the branches of an octocoral.

Expedition Map

2019 Southeast U.S. Deep-Sea Exploration ROV and Mapping overview map.

Deep Discoverer

The remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer will be used to image unexplored areas.

Tripod Fish

A tripod fish props itself up on the seafloor.

Dense fields of Lophelia pertusa, a common reef-building coral, have been found on the Blake Plateau knolls.

Lophelia Coral

Dense fields of Lophelia pertusa have been found on the Blake Plateau knolls.

VSAT

The sun sets over the VSAT antenna that allows for telepresence.

Fossil Coral

These exposed fossil Lophelia pertusa remains were documented on the Namibian coral mounds.

Lophelia

This high-density cold-water coral reef is dominated by Lophelia pertusa.

Bathymetry

This bathymetry map shows cold-water coral mounds within the Straits of Florida.

Map showing the geographic regions in which the Southeast Deep Coral Initiative (SEDCI) will operate in 2016-2019.

SEDCI Map

Map showing the geographic regions in which SEDCI will operate in 2016-2019.

A dense community of black corals, octocorals, and crinoids at 122 meters (400 feet) depth on Elvers Bank in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.

Coral Community

A dense community of black corals, octocorals, and crinoids on Elvers Bank in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.

Thorny Tinselfish

Thorny tinselfish swimming above a dense aggregation of Lophelia pertusa and a squat lobster on the West Florida Slope.

Mission Control

Science team inside the mission control room aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer during an ROV Dive.

Okeanos Atlas

Near real-time data are sent to shore and publically accessible via the Okeanos Atlas.

Composite Multibeam Hillshade Mosaic

NCEI's composite multibeam hillshade mosaic shows the depth gradient of the seafloor off of the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

Plumes

Three-dimensional perspective of a ROV Deep Discoverer dive track (white lines) and waypoints (red points).

Composite Map

Mapping teams create a composite map that shows the depth of the seafloor and ship track lines.

CTD Rosette

Scientists bring the deployable CTD rosette back on board after sending it to the seafloor.

Once aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, water collected on niskin bottles during the Windows to the Deep 2018 expedition Dive 04 is transferred to sterile containers for later eDNA processing.

Collecting Water Samples

Water collected in Niskin bottles is transferred to sterile containers for later eDNA processing.

An octocoral and squat lobster associate that were collected on Dive 05 of the Windows to the Deep 2019 expedition. Remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer’s manipulator arm is visible as it goes to make the collection.

Collecting a Sample

An octocoral and squat lobster associate collected on the Windows to the Deep 2019 expedition.

Sea Pen

This sea pen was seen during Dive 2 of the Océano Profundo 2018 expedition.

Mapping Team

Mapping team of Windows to the Deep 2019 expedition.

2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration – Remotely Operated Vehicle and Mapping Operations

Image and Video Gallery

Daily Updates

Mission Logs

Image and Video Gallery

For Educators

Background Information

Media Resources

Meet the Explorers

Expedition Data

2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration – Remotely Operated Vehicle and Mapping Operations

Image and Video Gallery

Daily Updates

Mission Logs

Image and Video Gallery

For Educators

Background Information

Media Resources

Meet the Explorers

Expedition Data

Related Links