2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration
Updates From the Field: Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going
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).
September 7, 2026
This week will mark our last week of remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dives to explore deep waters of American Samoa during the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition, led by NOAA Ocean Exploration and partners, including National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa and the U.S. Geological Survey.
While weather limited our ability to dive during the first part of the expedition, we were able to conduct two dives on the northern flank of Tutuila Island, during which we observed an exciting range of animals, from corals and sponges to fish, anemones, shrimp, and more as well as volcanic rocks and sedimented surfaces. We were also able to dive on an abyssal plain in the Samoa Basin, approximately 100 miles east of Rose Atoll.
As we look ahead to our final week of ROV dives, we are hoping to explore seamounts and abyssal plains, characterizing the geology and biology in these deep-sea environments. On Saturday, September 12, we will begin our transit to Suva, Fiji, arriving on September 17, marking the end of the expedition.
For images and videos from the expedition, visit: https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/multimedia-ex2606/
This week’s tentative 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping expedition schedule
NOTE: All dates, times, and locations are subject to change
September 7 Dive 07 (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. SST): Abyssal Plain Dive
September 8: Dive 08 (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. SST): Abyssal Plain Dive
September 9: Dive 09 (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. SST): Abyssal Plain Dive
September 10: Dive 10 (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. SST): Abyssal Plain Dive
September 11: Dive 11 (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. SST): Seamount Dive
August 31, 2026
The 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition continues into its second week. NOAA Ocean Exploration and partners, including National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa and the U.S. Geological Survey, are conducting remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dives and seafloor mapping operations to increase understanding of deep ocean waters of American Samoa, helping to build baseline knowledge in regions that remain difficult to access and not well understood.
During the first week of the expedition on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, Mother Nature gave us a bit of a rough time. While we’d hoped to get the ROVs in the water every day, high winds and rough seas meant we could only safely launch the ROVs once. But that one dive did not disappoint! We were able to explore the crater and rim of a seamount south of Rose Atoll, where we encountered a landscape of volcanic rocks and sediment and animals ranging from corals, sponges, sea stars, anemones, sea cucumbers, and even a couple of fish.
Heading into the next week of the expedition with dreams of calmer seas, we are hoping to conduct dives near and within the boundary of National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa and Rose Atoll Marine National Monument. During dives on seamounts and abyssal plains, we expect to see some interesting geology and an array of marine life, collecting and sharing data to learn more about these unique and valuable places.
As with all expeditions on Okeanos Explorer, operations will be streamed live to the oceanexplorer.noaa.gov website, so you can tune in and follow scientists in real time as they discover the wonder of American Samoa’s deep waters. We hope you’ll join us!
For images and videos from the expedition, visit: https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/multimedia-ex2606/
This week’s tentative 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping expedition schedule
NOTE: All dates, times, and locations are subject to change
August 31: Dive 04 (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. SST): Abyssal Plain Dive
September 1: No Dive
September 2: No Dive
September 3: No Dive
September 4: Dive 05 (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. SST): Seamount Dive
September 5: Dive 06 (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. SST): Seamount Dive
September 6: Dive 07 (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. SST): Abyssal Plain Dive
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 Canceled]
August 25: [Dive Canceled]
August 26: [Dive Canceled]
August 27: Dive 02 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. SST): Abyssal Plain Dive
August 28: Dive 03 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. SST): Abyssal Plain Dive
August 29: Dive 04 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. SST): Abyssal Plain Dive
August 30: Dive 05 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. SST): Abyssal Plain Dive