The trackline and area of operations for the 2026 Pacific Islands Mapping expedition (EX2604). The inset depicts a close-up of the area around Jarvis Island where extensive bathymetric mapping data ...

Increase mapping coverage of deepwater regions of American Samoa and the south and central Pacific Ocean. Beginning on September 24, NOAA Ocean Exploration will spend several days mapping unexplored ...

From this video, which shows the beautiful characteristic spiral of Iridogorgia corals, it’s not hard to see why these corals are sometimes likened to fireworks. This genus of deep-sea corals is in ...

During Dive 02 of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition, the team encountered a variety of marine life, including a crinoid, a white flatworm, and a dandelion siphonophore. The ...

The final dive of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition took place on a seamount in the Samoa Basin, approximately 120 miles south of Rose Atoll. The dive started at a depth of ...

Omics - the study of DNA, RNA, proteins, and metabolites - delivers transformational insights that advance ecosystem understanding, strengthen environmental monitoring, and enable sustainable ...

Much of the deep Pacific remains difficult to observe directly. Deep-sea corals occur hundreds to thousands of meters below the surface, often on steep slopes, seamounts, ridges, and other complex ...

Dive 08 of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition explored the eastern side of one of the deepest sub-basins in the Samoa Basin, starting at a depth of 5,875 meters (3.65 miles) ...

This large senesced sponge stalk provided habitat for a brisingid sea star, crinoids, a Poliopogon sp. sponge, a barnacle, and small amphipods. Seen during Dive 12 of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + ...

During Dive 12 of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition, we saw a variety of glass sponges, including this stalked Caulophacus sponge that was more than 3 meters tall (9.8 feet) ...

Dive 10 of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition took place on an abyssal nodule field, parts of which had been mapped and imaged using an autonomous underwater vehicle during ...

Dive 09 of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition explored an abyssal nodule field in the central Samoa Basin. The dive took place on a relatively flat area of seafloor, starting ...