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The image depicts a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) illuminating a section of the ocean floor. The ROV’s bright lights cast a blue glow on the textured seabed, highlighting its rough surface. The surrounding water is a deep blue, fading into darker shades as it extends away from the light source, creating a sense of depth.

2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration

Dive 08: Ultra Deep Basin

September 7, 2026

Location: Lat: -14.440241634°; Long: -166.623841794°  
Dive Depth Range: 5,869-5,874 meters (3.65-3.65 miles)
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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) and working up the slope of the basin to 5,850 meters (3.64 miles) depth. Throughout the dive, seafloor sediment had a hummocky appearance, with a higher abundance of nodules collecting in lower areas. Towards the middle of the dive, we encountered large slabs of ferromanganese-encrusted rock, some appearing to have fallen downslope. We also saw and collected yellow rocks that appeared to be elemental sulfur. Despite covering a relatively small depth range during the dive, a wide variety of deep-sea life was documented, including at least three species of sponges, several species of worms and crustaceans, and several other animals, including anemones, sea cucumbers, crinoids, and a black coral.

A translucent acorn worm rests on a sandy ocean floor scattered with dark rocks.

This acorn worm was collected during the eighth dive of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration. Download largest version (jpg, 598 KB).

A robotic arm pushes a clear sampling tube into a sandy ocean floor covered with small dark rocks.

At the beginning of Dive 08 of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition, nodule abundance was patchy, ranging from low to medium abundance. Here, the scoop sample of remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer is poised to collect one of two scoops of the relatively small nodules seen towards the beginning of the dive. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration. Download largest version (jpg, 672 KB).

A delicate, translucent glass sponge stands on a dark rock surrounded by a sandy ocean floor.

We observed at least three different species of sponges during Dive 08 of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition, including two carnivorous sponges and this urn-shaped glass sponges supported by filaments above the sediment that was collected for further analysis. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration. Download largest version (jpg, 552 KB).

A translucent white anemone with a dark stalk grows on a black, textured rock against a sandy ocean floor.

A pretty little anemone seen perched on a rock during Dive 08 of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration. Download largest version (jpg, 502 KB).

Flat, yellowish rocks are clustered on a sandy ocean floor scattered with smaller dark rocks.

Towards the end of Dive 08 of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition, we encountered a pile of thin, flat, and wide yellow rocks that appeared to be elemental sulfur. Large polymetallic nodules, approximately 15 centimeters (6 inches) in diameter were observed at the base of the yellow rocks. Two pieces of the yellow rock were collected. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration. Download largest version (jpg, 584 KB).