2015 Hohonu Moana: Exploring Deep Waters off Hawaiʻi

2015 Hohonu Moana: Exploring Deep Waters off Hawaiʻi

Image and Video Gallery

This page contains photos and videos associated with the 2015 Hohonu Moana: Exploring Deep Waters off Hawaiʻi expedition. Click on any image or video to view a larger version and for additional information.

Highlights video from Leg 3 Dive 7

September 3: Video Log

This dive visits the hull of the World War I submarine S-19 which now rests on the bottom at 414 m in the middle of a sand expanse.

Highlights video from Leg 3 Dive 6

September 2: Video Log

This was the first dive ever conducted on Ellis Seamount located in the Geologist Seamounts group.

Highlights video from Leg 3 Dive 5

September 1: Video Log

This was the first dive ever conducted on Swordfish Seamount located in the Geologist Seamounts group.

Highlights video from Leg 3 Dive 4

August 31: Video Log

Video highlights on McCall Seamount, the first dive of the cruise in the Geologist Seamounts.

Highlights video from Leg 3 Dive 3

August 30: Video Log

Video highlights along a 450-meter contour at the southern end of the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaiʻi

Highlights video from Leg 3 Dive 2

August 29: Video Log

Video highlights from a dive conducted off the Big Island of Hawaii at the Keahole precious coral bed.

Highlights video from Dive 18

August 20: Video Log

Highlights from Dive 18 at a channel between Westpac Bank and Nihoa Island.

Highlights video from Dive 16

August 17: Video Log

Highlights from Dive 16 on an old reef terrace edge north of Gardner Pinnacles.

Highlights video from Dive 15

August 16: Video Log

Highlights from Dive 15 on a ridge north of Maro Reef to survey a completely unexplored area.

Highlights video from Dive 14

August 15: Video Log

Highlights from Dive 14 on a ridge that extends northward from Pioneer Bank.

Highlights video from Dive 13

August 14: Video Log

Highlights from Dive 13 on a ridge southeast of an unnamed seamount east of Pearl and Hermes Atoll.

Highlights video from Dive 12

August 13: Video Log

Highlights from Dive 12 along the edge of a rift zone ridge extending southeast from Pearl & Hermes Atoll.

Highlights video from Dive 11

August 12: Video Log

Highlights from Dive 11 on a ridge that extends north from the northern half of Bank 9.

Highlights video from Dive 7

August 11: Video Log

Highlights from Dive 10 on a ridge that extends to the southeast of Salmon Bank.

Highlights video from Dive 9

August 10: Video Log

Highlights from Dive 9 on a sharp ridge that extended west from East Salmon Bank.

Highlights video from Dive 8

August 9: Video Log

Highlights from Dive 8 on seamount on the south side of Bank 9.

Highlights video from Dive 7

August 8: Video Log

Highlights from Dive 7 on a sharp ridge extending to the south of Pioneer Bank.

Highlights video from Dive 6

August 7: Video Log

Highlights from Dive 6 on a ridge extending south from West Northampton Seamount.

Highlights video from Dive 5

August 6: Video Log

Highlights from Dive 5 on a ridge southeast of Maro Reef.

Highlights video from Dive 4

August 5: Video Log

Highlights from Dive 4 on the eastern ridge of a crater east of Maro Reef.

Highlights video from Dive 3

August 4: Video Log

Highlights from Dive 3 along St. Rogatien Rift.

Highlights video from Dive 2

August 3: Video Log

Highlights from Dive 2 near French Frigate Shoals (Kanehunamoku Seamount).

Dive 1 Video Log

Dive 1 Video Log

Highlights from Dive 1 on East Necker Seamount (Keoea Seamount).

Jellyfish

Unusual jellyfish spotted at ~1,000 meters depth during midwater transects on September 27, 2015.

Sea Cucumber

A sea cucumber, or holothurian, seen swimming just above the seafloor at a depth of ~4,085 meters.

Cusk Eel

The cusk eel, Leucicorus lusciosus. This fish's genus is known from a collection of fewer than 20 individuals.

Squid

During ROV recovery, this squid became rather "attached" to the Deep Discoverer.

Sea Star Predation

Sea Star Predation

A sea star feasts on a coral by inverting its stomach.

Ctenophore

A ctenophore with long tentacles belonging to the Family Aulacoctenidae. (Video)

Anemone and Scale Worms

Anemone and Scale Worms

Scientists encountered this large anemone with several scale worms crawling across its surface.

Siphonophore

This siphonophore was seen swimming through the water column during a dive near Hutchinson Seamount.

Squid

This whiplash squid attached itself to the ROV before coming around to the front of the vehicle.

Jelly

This jellyfish appears to be an undescribed species of Bathykorus.

Polychaete

An unusual polychaete documented during the September 18 dive at Deep Twin Ridge.

Chimaera

A rarely seen chimaera, spotted during Dive 04 of Leg 4.

Swimming Crinoids

Swimming Crinoids

During the dive, the ROV disturbed several crinoids who took to the water.

Halosaur

Halosaur seen while exploring on the southeast side of Johnston Atoll.

Basket Star

This basket star was seen while exploring a pinnacle feature on the southwest coast of Niihau.

Cusk Eel

Cusk eel seen swimming in the water column during the first dive ever conducted on Swordfish Seamount.

Volcano Fish

We saw this this goosefish at Swordfish Seamount during Leg 3 Dive 05.

Ctenophore

A ctenophore seen while exploring at the southern end of the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii.

Armored Searobin

Armored Searobin

Armored searobin seen off the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii at the Keahole precious coral bed.

Squid: Walvisteuthis youngorum

Squid: Walvisteuthis youngorum

A squid seen at 900 meters during mid-water transects off Northeast Gardner Pinnacles.

Squid

Squid seen while exploring an old reef terrace edge north of Gardner Pinnacles.

Duckbill Eel

Scientists saw this unusual eel with a fleshy extension from its nose. It was both a discovery and a mystery.

Sea Cucumber

A sea cucumber seen while exploring on an unnamed seamount east of Pearl and Hermes Atoll.

Crinoids

While we think of crinoids as animals attached to the seafloor, they are free-swimming animals.

Halosaur

Halosaur imaged on a ridge off Salmon Bank in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Sea Star Feeding

Sea Star Feeding

Underside of a sea star feeding on a bamboo coral.

Deepwater Hermit Crab

Deepwater Hermit Crab

A deepwater hermit crab using an anemone as a shell.

Siphonophore

A siphonophore spotted while exploring a sharp ridge that extended west from East Salmon Bank.

Jelly

This Narcomedusa jelly was seen swimming just above the seafloor on August 8.

Rattail

This rattail fish was playing host to a rather large parasite relative to its body.

Polychaete Worm

Polychaete Worm

Scientists were intrigued by this unusual polychaete, which lacked visible scales.

Holothurian

A holothurian, or sea cucumber, swims gracefully through the water column just above the seafloor.

Sea Cucumber

While exploring a crater near Maro Reef, scientists found this unusual-looking sea cucumber.

Snail

Snail spotted maneuvering along the seafloor during exploration of a crater near Maro Reef.

Scale Worm

Scale worm swimming above the seafloor.

Sea Spider

Sea spider, or pycnogonid, seen while exploring a large rift zone ridge north of St. Rogatien Bank.

Return to Pearl Harbor

Return to Pearl Harbor

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer stops at Kilo pier to offload the ROVs at the conclusion of the 2015 field season.

Transit to Honolulu

Transit to Honolulu

Rough seas break over the bow of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer during the transit back to Honolulu, Hawaii.

Leg 4 Dive 13: Guyot Ridge

Leg 4 Dive 13: Guyot Ridge

Throughout the dive at Guyot Ridge, D2 observed a diversity of deep-sea corals and sponges.

Leg 4 Dive 12: Abyssal Ridge

Leg 4 Dive 12: Abyssal Ridge

Ten minutes into the dive, our science team found this unidentified candelabrid solitary hydroid.

Leg 4 Dive 11: Karin Ridge Top

Leg 4 Dive 11: Karin Ridge Top

These crinoids have taken up residence on a dead sponge to gain better access to food in the water column.

Leg 4 Dive 10: Mid Karin Ridge

Leg 4 Dive 10: Mid Karin Ridge

Another USO (Unidentified Swimming Organism) for the cruise that left the science team was stumped.

Leg 4 Dive 09: South Karin Ridge

Leg 4 Dive 09: South Karin Ridge

At the top of a ridge feature, ROV Deep Discoverer encountered a diverse deep-sea coral community.

Leg 4 Dive 08: Lone Cone

Leg 4 Dive 08: Lone Cone

A rare sighting of a juvinile cutthroat eel will help our scientists learn about the life history of these fish.

Leg 4 Dive 07: Southernmost Cone

Leg 4 Dive 07: Southernmost Cone

A rare observation of an aplacophoran (shell-less mollusk) feeding on a bamboo coral.

Leg 4 Dive 06: Twin Cones

Leg 4 Dive 06: Twin Cones

During the descent on Dive 06, a one to two-meter squid attached itself to the back of ROV Deep Discoverer.

Leg 4 Dive 05: Deep Twin Ridge

Leg 4 Dive 05: Deep Twin Ridge

An unusual jelleyfish noted about halfway through Dive 05 at Deep Twin Ridge.

Leg 4 Dive 04: Southeast Johnston

Leg 4 Dive 04: Southeast Johnston

During Dive 04, ROV Deep Discoverer documented this USO – Unidentified Swimming Organism.

Leg 4 Dive 03: Karin Ridge

Leg 4 Dive 03: Karin Ridge

One of the many large sponges observed during Dive 03.

Transit Mapping

Transit Mapping

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer transits to Johnston Atoll—mapping its way off into the sunset.

Leg 4 Dive 2: Niihau

Leg 4 Dive 2: Niihau

A splendid perch observed towards the top of the pinnacle feature surveyed along the coast of Niihau.

Leg 4 Dive 1: South of Oahu

Leg 4 Dive 1: South of Oahu

ROV Deep Discoverer recovers a current meter at a dive site just south of Oahu.

Still in Port

ENS Pestone obverses morning colors.

Back in Port at Pearl Harbor

Back in Port at Pearl Harbor

Okeanos Explorer back at the pier in Pearl Harbor, Oahu, after completing Leg 3 of the Hohonu Moana expedition.

Leg 3 Dive 07: S-19 Submarine

Leg 3 Dive 07: S-19 Submarine

NOAA’s Deep Discoverer ROV shines its lights on the S-19 submarine resting ~ 415 meters deep.

Leg 3 Dive 06: Ellis Seamount

Leg 3 Dive 06: Ellis Seamount

Seirios camera sled images ROV Deep Discoverer shining its lights on a community of bamboo coral.

Leg 3 Dive 05: Swordfish Seamount

Leg 3 Dive 05: Swordfish Seamount

High-density coral community encountered along the slope of a pinnacle feature on the ridge crest.

Leg 3 Dive 04: McCall Seamount

Leg 3 Dive 04: McCall Seamount

An extremely old Farrea nr occa erecta sponge found ~2,660 meters deep at McCall Seamount.

Leg 3 Dive 03: Kona Coast

Leg 3 Dive 03: Kona Coast

Precious pink coral in the family Coralliidae (left) and gold coral (right) observed during the transect.

Leg 3 Dive 02: Keahole

Leg 3 Dive 02: Keahole

Hoplostethus crassispinus - in the same genus as, and related to the Orange Roughy.

Leg 3 Commences!

Leg 3 Commences!

Chief Bosun Jerrod Hozendorf watches as ROV Deep Discoverer is deployed from the Okeanos Explorer.

Arrival in Pearl Harbor

Arrival in Pearl Harbor

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer returned to port at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor this evening.

Transiting Home

Transiting Home

The aft deck of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer while transiting back to Pearl Harbor, Oahu.

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer is Called to Service

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer is Called to Service

Okeanos Explorer’s Fast Rescue Boat returns to the ship with the four Monk Seal researchers safely onboard.

Dive 18: West Nihoa

Dive 18: West Nihoa

Styela sp tunicates interspersed with yellow stoloniferous tunicates seen throughout most of the dive.

Transit Mapping to West Nihoa

Transit Mapping to West Nihoa

An ocean sunset is seen in the reflection of the port windows on the Bridge of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer.

Dive 17: East North Gardner

Dive 17: East North Gardner

A squid is imaged during today’s mid-water transects off Northeast Gardner Pinnacles.

Dive 16: Gardner Terrace

Dive 16: Gardner Terrace

A squat lobster perching on a undescribed genus of bamboo coral (family Isididae).

Dive 15: North Maro Ridge

Dive 15: North Maro Ridge

Seirios camera sled images the Deep Discoverer as it illuminates corals and sponges.

Dive 14: North Pioneer Ridge

Dive 14: North Pioneer Ridge

Deep-sea corals and sponges provide habitat and refuge for other animals living on or near the seafloor.

Dive 13: East Pearl & Hermes

Dive 13: East Pearl & Hermes

Composite image showing collected data further revealing this unnamed seamount.

Dive 12: Southeast Pearl & Hermes Ridge

Dive 12: Southeast Pearl & Hermes Ridge

Purple ctenophore, possibly Lampocteis cruentiventer, imaged at 1,000 meters.

Dive 11: Bank 9 North

Dive 11: Bank 9 North

Close up image of a glass sponge with commensal anemones growing throughout its tissues.

Dive 10: Salmon Bank Southeast Ridge

Dive 10: Salmon Bank Southeast Ridge

Underside of a seastar feeding on a bamboo coral.

Dive 09: East Salmon Bank

Dive 09: East Salmon Bank

A very large spectacular stalked sponge (Caulophacus sp.) encountered during the dive.

Dive 08: Bank 9 South

Dive 08: Bank 9 South

Large stalked sponge providing a home for a myriad of brittlestars and crustacean associates.

Dive 07: Pioneer Bank Ridge

Dive 07: Pioneer Bank Ridge

ROV Deep Discoverer places a piece of an uknown Corallium species in one of the bio boxes on the ROV.

Dive 06: West Northampton Seamount Ridge

Dive 06: West Northampton Seamount Ridge

Deep-sea fish in the family Macrouridae, with an isopod parasite.

Dive 05: Southeast Maro Ridge

Dive 05: Southeast Maro Ridge

ROV Deep Discoverer places an unidentified sponge in the vehicle's sampling drawer.

Dive 04: Maro Crater

Dive 04: Maro Crater

Bathymetric image of a crater located on the eastern Ridge off Maro Reef.

Dive 03: St. Rogatien Rift

Dive 03: St. Rogatien Rift

A corallium that is nearly completely overgrown by zooanthid and a brittlestar living in association.

Dive 02: North French Frigate Shoals (Kanehunamoku Seamount)

Dive 02: North French Frigate Shoals (Kanehunamoku Seamount)

A beautiful primnoid coral with a commensal crinoid and ophiuroid observed on the dive.

Dive 01: East Necker Seamount (Keoea Seamount)

Dive 01: East Necker Seamount (Keoea Seamount)

Two rock samples – likely manganese coated basalt – were collected during today’s dive.

Transit Mapping

Transit Mapping

An unnamed seamount was mapped during our transit mapping operations today.

Underway!

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer in port on Ford Island, in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Mission Summary Map

Mission Summary Map

Summary map showing work conducted during four NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer cruises as part of the expedition.

Exploration Command Center

Exploration Command Center

A new Exploration Command Center was brought online at NOAA’s Inouye Regional Center for the expedition.

University of Hawaii Command Center

University of Hawaii Command Center

The University of Hawaii at Manoa brought an Exploration Command Center online this year.

ROV Deep Discoverer (D2)

ROV Deep Discoverer (D2)

NOAA’s Seirios camera sled images the ROV Deep Discoverer.

Corrallium

ROV Deep Discoverer places a piece of an unknown Corallium species in one of the bio boxes on the ROV.

Legs 1 and 4 Maps

Legs 1 and 4 Maps

Maps showing the multibeam sonar mapping coverage before and after in the Johnston Atoll Unit.

Squat Lobster

This squat lobster is likely a new (undescribed) species in the anomuran family Chirostylidae.

Cuskeel

The cusk eel, Leucicorus lusciosus (Garman, 1899).

Corallium

Corallium species collected from a deep-sea coral and sponge community on the crest of Pioneer Bank.

Current Meter Recovery

Current Meter Recovery

ROV Deep Discoverer recovers a current meter at a dive site just south of Oahu.

S-19 submarine

S-19 submarine

A dive during Leg 3 of the expedition visited the S-19 submarine.

S-19 sketch

Sketch of the S-19 submarine following an ROV dive on the site.

Swordfish Seamount

Swordfish Seamount

Image of a high-density coral community encountered on the ridge crest of Swordfish Seamount.

Ctenophore

A ctenophore with long tentacles belonging to the Family Aulacoctenidae. (HR)

Sea Toad

This sea toad was spotted during our dive at Southernmost Cone.

Brittle Star

A brittle star has taken up residence on an octocoral (pink) that is being overgrown by a zooanthid (yellow).

Control Room

Scott France and Mackenzie Gerringer in the control room onboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer.

Guyot Ridge Squat Lobster

Guyot Ridge Squat Lobster

Squat lobsters are common associates on deep-sea corals, like this one observed at Guyot Ridge.

Chimera

A chimera observed at Deep Twin Ridge.

Sea Cucumber

If you look closely, you can see the intestinal track of this sea cucumber.

Polychaete

An unusual polychaete documented during our dive at Deep Twin Ridge.

Stalked Sponge

ROV Deep Discovererimages a stalked sponge.

Lieutenant Commander James Brinkley

Lieutenant Commander James Brinkley

Lieutenant Commander James Brinkley on the deck of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer.

Moonrise

Moonrise over the fantail of Okeanos Explorer.

New Organisms

On almost every dive in the Johnston Atoll portion of PRIMNM, we are finding new organisms.

Devils Tower

Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming – the first monument.

Sponges at Mid Karin Ridge

Sponges at Mid Karin Ridge

A large aggregation of branched deep-sea sponges documented on Dive 10 at Mid Karin Ridge.

Close-up View of Deep-Sea Sponges

Close-up View of Deep-Sea Sponges

Close-up view of branched deep-sea sponges documented on Dive 10 at Mid Karin Ridge.

Bathytyphlops

A Bathytyphlops (deep-sea tripod fish with greatly reduced eyes) seen during Dive 08 at Lone Cone.

Iridogorgia

A particularly large, and likely old, colony of Iridogorgia, with colonies of other octocorals in the background.

Octocoral

Although Anthosmastus may not be the biggest octocoral, it provides habitat for organisms, like this brittle star.

Ctenophore

This ctenophore observed during Dive 09 at South Karin Ridge and belongs to the Family Aulacoctenidae.

Shrimps with Sponge

Shrimps with Sponge

Sponges also provide valuable habitat for small organisms like these two shrimp.

Glass Sponge

Glass Sponge Caulophacus

The magnificent glass sponge Caulophacus, also known as the white mushroom sponge.

Circeaster Sea Star

Circeaster Sea Star

Rather than ingesting prey through its mouth, a sea star will push its stomach out of its mouth to feed.

Brittle Star

This brittle star is taking advantage of the height of a coral to reach into an area of higher current for food.

Lava Tube

Photograph of the basaltic seamount ‘Karin Ridge’ adjacent to the Hawaiian Islands.

Deepwater Hermit Crab

Deepwater Hermit Crab

A deepwater hermit crab using an anemone as a shell was spotted during Leg 4, Dive 08.

Frustrated on Shore

Frustrated on Shore

When functioning properly, telepresence can be an amazing outreach tool.

Video Interrupted

Video Interrupted

The “video interrupted” logo has become one of my least favorite things to see on our website.

Tunicate

Stalked benthic tunicate from our first dive at Johnston Atoll at Karin Ridge.

Stalked Sponges

Stalked Sponges

A group of stalked sponges, including some very small recent recruits, at Karin Ridge.

Squat Lobsters

We documented a number of squat lobsters residing in an octocorals at Twin Cones.

Ctenophore

A very small benthic ctenophore rested on a Iridogorgia (coral) at Twin Cones.

Anemone

We encountered a large anemone with a number of small polychaete worms roaming over the tentacles.

Sea Toad

This sea toad, documented during Dive 07, was a new observation for this region.

Brittle Star with Bamboo Coral

Brittle Star with Bamboo Coral

A bamboo coral with an ophiuroid brittle star intertwining its arms around the branches of the colony.

Sea Fan Colonies

Sea Fan Colonies

Two large octocoral sea fan colonies grow off the side of a rocky feature off the southwest tip of Ni’ihau.

Rock Pens

Several rock pens grow alongside a precious pink coral, Pleurocorallium secundum.

Hydroid

Several colonies of the hydroid Hydrodendron gorgonoide extend from a rock off the southwest tip of Ni’ihau.

Deep-sea Angler Fish

Deep-sea Angler Fish

The sea toad, a type of deep-sea angler fish, was seen at 328 meters depth off the southwest tip of Ni’ihau.

Stony Coral

Two different species of stony coral, one purple and one yellow, grow next to one another.

Classification Chart

Classification Chart

A chart to illustrate the taxonomic classification levels of some deep-sea corals as compared to mammals.

Yellow Crazy Ant Swarm

Yellow Crazy Ant Swarm

Blinded redtailed tropicbird on Johnston Island being swarmed with YCA.

Hydrogel

YCA feeding on hydrogel loaded with sugar water.

CAST 10

The crew of CAST 10.

Hydrogel Crystals

Hydrogel Crystals

Freshly mixed hydrogel after absorbing sugar water pesticide mixture.

Applying Hydrogel

Applying Hydrogel

Volunteer Mike Abemayor applies hydrogel mixture to the YCA infestation area.

Okeanos Explorer at Johnston Atoll

Okeanos Explorer at Johnston Atoll

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer pulls into Johnston Atoll.

The Relief of Getting Underway

The Relief of Getting Underway

Brian Kennedy watches as the departs the main Hawaiian islands and heads to Johnston Atoll.

Black Coral with Seastar

Black Coral with Seastar

Black coral that was first discovered off Penguin Bank, Hawaii, during a Pisces V dive in 1996.

Pisces V submersible

Pisces V submersible

The Pisces V submersible being recovered after a dive during a HURL expedition.

Sea Cucumber

A sea cucumber seen at 2,690 meters depth in Maro Crater during Leg 2 of the Hohonu Moana expedition.

Unusual Eel

This unusual eel was filmed during a Hohonu Moana expedition’s remotely operated vehicle.

Snout Extension

Snout Extension

The eel had an unusual fleshy extension from the snout.

Atlantic species

Atlantic speciesg

Venefica procera is an Atlantic species with a short extension on the snout.

Eastern Pacific Species

Eastern Pacific Species

Venefica ocella is an eastern Pacific species with a very long extension on the snout.

Central Pacific Species

Central Pacific Species

Venefica tentaculata, an eastern and central Pacific species with a moderately long snout extension.

Searobin

The armored searobin, Scalicus engyceros.

Spikefish

The Hawaiian spikefish, Hollardia goslinei.

Diplacanthopoma

Diplacanthopoma

ROV Deep Discoverer filmed this Diplacanthopoma species on Bank 9.

Cuskeel

A second Diplacanthopoma with a different color, filmed on September 2, 2015.

Red And Pick Coral Beds

Red And Pick Coral Beds

Photo of dense red and pick coral beds on the western branch of the 1986 Mauna Loa lava flow.

Bamboo Coral

Young bamboo coral colonizing a rock and gold coral after fully colonizing a bamboo coral skeleton.

Rock Sample

ROV arm collecting a rock sample from the 1868 lava flow.

Current Meter

Acoustic current meter with particulate sensor and thermograph.

Flow Meter

Flow meter with thermograph.

Fast Rescue Boat

Fast Rescue Boat

Okeanos Explorer’s fast rescue boat is deployed from the ship to Tern Island to pick up four researchers.

Tern Island

Tern Island served as a refueling stop for planes en route to Midway during World War II.

Monk Seal Researchers

Monk Seal Researchers

Okeanos Explorer’s Fast Rescue Boat returns to the ship with the four Monk Seal researchers safely onboard.

Frigate

Dozens of sea birds flew out to investigate the ship, including Great Frigate birds, or 'Iwa.'

Red-Footed Booby

Red-Footed Booby

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer was also greeted by red-footed boobies.

Exploration Command Center

Exploration Command Center

Scientists participate in the dive via telepresence at the University of Hawaii Exploration Command Center.

Brittle Stars

Arms of brittle stars seen interwinted within the structure of a vibrant, pink deep-water coral.

Garden

A lush "garden" of sponges, corals, and whimsical Iridogorgia bella (an octocoral).

Manganese Nodules

Manganese Nodules

A pavement of manganese nodules.

The NOAA Inouye Regional Center

The NOAA Inouye Regional Center

The NOAA Inouye Regional Center.

NOAA Inouye Regional Center Entrance.

NOAA Inouye Regional Center Entrance

Photo of the entrance to the NOAA Inouye Regional Center.

The NOAA Inouye Regional Center Lobby

The NOAA Inouye Regional Center Lobby

The lobby of the NOAA Inouye Regional Center.

Biologist Bruce Mundy

Biologist Bruce Mundy

Fishery biologist Bruce Mundy talks about the expedition to Exploration Command Center visitors.

Steamer Albatross

Steamer Albatross

The U.S. Fish Commission Steamer Albatross prior to its voyage to Hawaii in 1902.

Specimen Collection

Specimen Collection

The back deck of the Albatross after a collection of specimens via deep-sea trawling.

Docked at Pearl Harbor

Docked at Pearl Harbor

Okeanos Explorer docked at Pearl Harbor prior to the 22-day expedition to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Back on Deck

ROV Deep Discoverer being brought back on deck of the Okeanos Explorer after a successful dive.

Goniasterid Sea Star

Goniasterid Sea Star

The goniasterid sea star, Calliaster pedicellaris, feeding on a bamboo coral.

Asteroid

A brisingid asteroid, probably in the genus Hymenodiscus.

Pythonaster

The rarely encountered sea star Pythonaster sp. (Myxasteridae).

Largest Sponge Ever

Largest Sponge Ever

Possibly the largest sponge ever recorded, seen August 12, 2015.

Sheet Flow

Sheet flow from our cruise on a ridge northwest of Maro Reef.

St. Rogatien Rift

St. Rogatien Rift

Volcanic rift zone ridge of St. Rogatien, one of our previous dives.

Dike Rocks

This photo shows a video still taken while we were traversing over a field of broke up dike rocks.

Pillow Lava

Photo of an intact bulbous pillow lava from a lava flow that was surveyed on August 13.

Tubular Toothpaste Look

Tubular Toothpaste Look

Photo showing the rounded, toothpaste tubular look of pillow lavas on a mound.

Sampling

This is a photo of the Deep Discoverer's manipulator arm grabbing a sample of pillow lava.

Ford Island

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer moored pier side Ford Island.

ENS Nick Pawlenko

ENS Nick Pawlenko

ENS Nick Pawlenko helps load stores aboard the Okeanos Explorer.

Telepresence

Scientists participate in the dive at the University of Hawaii Exploration Command Center via telepresence.

Sampling Claw

A close-up of the Deep Discoverer's stainless steel custom sampling claw, holding a rock sample.

Rock Sample

ROV Deep Discoverer reaches for a rock sample.

Sampling Container

Sampling Container

D2 stores its rock sample in one of the ROV’s many sampling containers.

Chief Boatswain Jerrod Hozendorf

Chief Boatswain Jerrod Hozendorf drives the Fast Rescue Boat during training exercises.

Seaman Abe McDowell

Able-bodied Seaman Abe McDowell directs deck operations during ROV deployment operations.

Final Adjustments

Final Adjustments

Remotely operated vehicle Engineers Jeff Laning and Bobby Mohr make final adjustments before a dive.

Tara Smithee

Video Engineer Tara Smithee documents the launch of the remotely operated vehicles.

Mushroom Coral

Deep Discoverer gets a close up of a mushroom coral at almost 2,000 meters.

Coral Wall

ROV Deep Discoverer explores a coral wall at North French Frigate Shoals Seamount.

Chrysogorgiid Coral

Chrysogorgiid Coral

Beautiful chrysogorgiid coral, Pleurogorgia.

Departing Pearl Harbor

Departing Pearl Harbor

Bow of the Okeanos Explorer as she departs Pearl Harbor, Oahu, to commence the second leg of expedition.

Robotic HD Camera

Robotic HD Camera

Video engineers Roland Brian and Joe Biscotti work on one of the robotic HD camera’s on the ship’s aft deck.

Food Stores

Food stores being loaded onboard in preparation for Leg 2 of the expedition.

Expedition Overview

Expedition Overview

Expedition overview map.

Third Field Season

Third Field Season

The expedition marks the third field season using the ROV Deep Discoverer and Seirios camera sled.

Telepresence

Okeanos Explorer uses telepresence technology to transmit data in real-time to a shore-based hub.

Cruise Map

Cruise map showing the planned operations area for the initial mapping leg.

Bubblegum Coral

Bubblegum Coral

Colonies of Hawaiian bubblegum coral with anemones, brittle stars, and other animals living in their branches.

Gorgonian

A Hawaiian species of gorgonian called Rhodaniridogorgia bending in the current.

Gold Coral

Gold coral in the process of overgrowing a bamboo coral colony that it will eventually completely cover.

Gloria Data

A mosaic of Gloria data for the northern end of PMNM.

Kilo Moana

The UH swath ship, R/V Kilo Moana.

Multibeam Bathymetry

Multibeam Bathymetry

Synthesis of PMNM multibeam bathymetry.

Donut Cruise

"Donut cruise" mapping around St. Rogatien Banks and French Frigate Shoals.

Pisces 5 submersible

Pisces 5 Submersible

Pisces 5 submersible.

Corals and Sponges

Corals and Sponges

Deep-water corals and sponges found in PMNM in 2003.

Unnamed Seamounts

Unnamed Seamounts

Two unnamed seamounts located southwest of Midway Atoll.

Bank 9 Seamount

Bank 9 Seamount

A flat-topped seamount known only as Bank 9 that may be a composite of two separate seamounts.

Academician Berg and Turnif

Academician Berg and Turnif

Academician Berg and Turnif seamounts in the northernmost extent of PMNM.

Ladd Seamount

Ladd seamount in PMNM.

Ferromanganese Deposits

Ferromanganese Deposits

Known occurrences of marine ferromanganese deposits worldwide.

Metal-rich Femn Crusts

Metal-rich Femn Crusts

Thickest, most metal-rich FeMn crusts found on seamount flanks and summits.

Economic Development Potential

Economic Development Potential

Between 800-2,500 m is depth of crusts with best economic development potential.

Cobalt-rich Crust Deposits

Cobalt-rich Crust Deposits

Profile of seamount within Johnston Island EEZ with thick, cobalt-rich crust deposits.

Prospective Crust Deposits

Prospective Crust Deposits

Rankings of Prospective Crust Deposits, based on measured crust thickness.