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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

Feature

Updates From the Field: Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going

August 24, 2026
Large white ocean waves crash heavily over the white bow of a ship at sea.

Waves crash over the bow of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer as the vessel moves through waters of the Cook Islands during the 2026 Cook Islands ROV Exploration cruise. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2026 Cook Islands ROV Exploration. Download largest version (jpg, 2 MB).

August 24, 2026

On Thursday, August 20, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer left Rarotonga in the Cook Islands to begin a 29-day expedition to map and explore deep waters in and around American Samoa. During the expedition, the mission team will conduct remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, dives to explore the seafloor and water column and overnight mapping operations, and continuous shore-side participation via telepresence technology.

We expect to explore abyssal plain environments, with a focus on developing a baseline assessment of marine critical minerals, specifically polymetallic nodules, as well as seamount habitats, deep-sea coral and sponge communities, fish habitats, and the water column. Thanks to telepresence technology, NOAA Ocean Exploration invites anyone with an internet connection to watch and listen as members of the science community actively engage and guide each dive.

Today, August 24, the team hoped to conduct the first dive of the expedition on a seamount near the boundary between American Samoa and the Cook Islands, but high winds prevented launch of the ROV.

Barring any weather or technical issues, dives will be conducted daily August 24-September 1 and September 2-September 12. Most days, we expect to deploy the ROV at approximately 8 a.m. SST (3 p.m. EDT), but we’ll share updates if things change.

Join us live at oceanexplorer.noaa.gov!

This week’s tentative 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping expedition schedule

NOTE: All dates, times, and locations are subject to change

August 24: Dive 01 (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. SST): [Dive Canceled]

August 25: Dive 02 (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. SST): Seamount Dive

August 26: Dive 03 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. SST): Abyssal Plain Dive

August 27: Dive 04 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. SST): Abyssal Plain Dive

August 28: Dive 05 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. SST): Abyssal Plain Dive

August 29: Dive 06 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. SST): Abyssal Plain Dive

August 30: Dive 07 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. SST): Abyssal Plain Dive

Published August 24, 2026