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Sizing Up a Seamount
Seamounts (underwater mountains) are excellent dive targets for remotely operated vehicle (ROV) shakedowns. Their steep, rugged environments and high-energy currents put ROV piloting and agility skills to the test. Known for rocky outcrops and a diversity of animals, seamounts also present good opportunities for sampling practice. Here, ROV Deep Discoverer explores a high-density coral community on Ellis Seamount in the Geologist Seamounts off Hawai‘i during the 2015 Hohonu Moana expedition.