Fonualei South Dive Q323. A) 9/14 22-14-39: Toothpaste-like lava tubes near summit of central cone, ~974 m. B) 9/14 23-59-35: Manganese-coated mussel shells mark demise of venting, ~950 m, near summit of central cone. C) 9/15 00-49-02: Solitary live 'hairy' snail clings to life amongst deceased (lost their hair), near summit of central cone, ~963 m. D) 9/15 04:31-32: Venting at top of 20 m high chimney, Loloa Kakai vent field, flank of central cone, ~1550 m. Image courtesy of Submarine Ring of Fire 2012 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program. Download image (jpg, 108 KB).

Motutahi Dive Q324. A) 9/13 22-03-00: Microbially secreted mucopolysaccharide sacs on upper flank of Motutahi cone, ~1264 m. B) 9/14 02:57:56: Turbid, sulfur-rich cloud venting from pit on summit of cone, ~1244 m. C) 9/14 04-50-05: The sulfur-strewn steep slope just east of the cone summit. ~1260 m. D) 9/14 04-10-00: Lava flows with stretch marks flowing down from summit of cone, ~1259 m. Image courtesy of Submarine Ring of Fire 2012 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program. Download image (jpg, 112 KB).

Mata Ua Dive Q325. A) 9/14 22-11-58: Sedimented pillow lava tube flows on slope on south flank of Mata Ua, ~2213 m. B) 9/14 23-35-35: Sampling vesicular lavas, southern flank, ~2194 m. C) 9/15 01-30-53: Outcropping hydrothermal alteration zone, ~2135 m. D) 9/15 03-25-27: Squat lobster and lollipop sponges, northwest flank, ~2210 m. Image courtesy of Submarine Ring of Fire 2012 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program. Download image (jpg, 125 KB).

Niua South Dive Q326. A) 9/18 00-32-47: Layers of volcanic deposits outcrop on wall of the small pit, ~1158 m. B) 9/18 00-49-00: Fathead sculpin fish and shrimp in the small pit, ~1156 m. C) 9/18 04-27-00: Forest of sulfide chimneys at Adelaide sulfide structure, large pit, ~1162 m. D) Sample hot fluids with 'Major' sample bottle, Adelaide, large pit, ~1158 m. Image courtesy of Submarine Ring of Fire 2012 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program. Image courtesy of Submarine Ring of Fire 2012 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program. Download image (jpg, 133 KB).

West Mata Dive Q327. A) 9/18 21-31-35: Iron microbial mat, Mat Meadows, ~1281 m. B) 9/19 00-02-29: Truncated pillows outcrop on wall of 2010-11 Pit Crater, ~1235 m. C) 9/19 01-48-20: Shrimp swarm on pinnacle on summit of West Mata, ~1161 m. D) 9/19 07-18-00: Scale worms and polysaccharide sacs at Luo site, ~1281 m. Image courtesy of Submarine Ring of Fire 2012 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program. Download image (jpg, 121 KB).

Mata Ua Dive Q328. A) 9/20 00-18-00: Long-necked barnacle colony, ~2390 m. B) 9/20 00-41-06: OSU syringe sampling hydrothermal sediments, ~2365m. C) 9/20 01-48-18: 'Flashing' black smokers, ~2365 m. D) 9/20 05-32-39: Barnacles colonizing sulfide chimneys, ~2355 m. Image courtesy of Submarine Ring of Fire 2012 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program. Download image (jpg, 127 KB).

Mata Fitu Dive Q329. A) 9/20 23-01-21: Close-up of polychaetes on chimney, ~2605 m. B) 9/20 23-10-56: Line of active chimneys going upslope, ~2602 m. C) 9/21 03-54-00: Top of 17 m ChimE sulfide structure, ~2625 m. D) 9/21 04-59-46: Smoke pours from top of ChimE, ~2625 m. Image courtesy of Submarine Ring of Fire 2012 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program Image courtesy of Deepwater Canyons 2013 - Pathways to the Abyss, NOAA-OER/BOEM/USGS. Download image (jpg, 102 KB).

Niua North Dive Q330. A) 9/21 22-31-27: 'Hellow' sampling site, consisting of multiple sources of venting and sulfur flows. 754 m. B) 9/22 03-33-07: Vast expanse of mussels at the summit of Niua North, named 'Mussel Mania'. Low-temperature diffuse flow area with biota including paralomis crabs, eel pouts, snails, brachyuran crabs and shrimp. 722 m. C) 9/22 05-14-40: 'Hellow' area. Notice the sulfur smoke and liquid CO2 bubbles rising out of the seafloor. 747 m. D) 9/22 05-45-22: Rhyolite outcrop sampled near end of dive. The biota swarming the rocks include: shrimp, eels, and crabs. 745 m. Image courtesy of Submarine Ring of Fire 2012 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program. Download image (jpg, 118 KB).

Mata Tolu Dive Q331. A) 9/22 22-13-26 8-9 m high 'Snail' chimney from a distance. Dense biota, especially snails at the base. Samples 4-15. ~1820m. B) 9/22 22-22-25 Pagoda structures and microbial mat on Snail chimney. Biota includes Ifremieria (gray/dark brown) and Alvinochoncha (light brown, hairy) snails, polynoid worms, crabs, shrimp. C) 9/23 03-46-06 Large in-place boninite pillow lava east of the summit. Glassy outer rind sampled. ~1868 m. D) 9/23 05-54-30 Second chimney sampling site (samples 18-24), central summit. ~1840m. Image courtesy of Submarine Ring of Fire 2012 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program. Download image (jpg, 133 KB).

West Mata Dive Q332. A) 9/23 21-02-00: Truncated pillows on rim of 2010-11 Pit Crater, ~1255 m. B) 9/23 22-03-00: Shrimps swarm on young pillow tubes impinging older scarp of exposed lavas, ~1205 m. C) 9/23 23-52-26: Dike exposed in headwall area of slide, ~1220 m. D) 9/24 00-49-43: Closeup of shrimp swarm, summit of West Mata, ~1172 m. Image courtesy of Submarine Ring of Fire 2012 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program. Download image (jpg, 132 KB).

Niua South Dive Q333. A) 9/24 20-22-25: Sampling manganese oxide microbial mats in the small pit at Niua South. 1165 m. B) 9/24 21-38-58: Small active (white) and inactive (brown) chimneys on the south slope of the large pit. 1156 m. C) 9/24 22-32-40: Sulfide structure directly south of Adelaide. ~1162 m. D) 9/24 23-56-29: Target E active chimney structure on the eastern edge of the large pit. Samples 4-17 collected, ~1155m. Image courtesy of Submarine Ring of Fire 2012 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program. Download image (jpg, 132 KB).