Status: NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer
NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer is at sea for the 2026 ROV Shakedown (EX2603) in the deep waters around Hawai‘i from May 16-June 5. This expedition will stress test every component of the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) system and their associated systems — mechanical, electrical, and software — to ensure they are performing properly and are ready for the 2026 field season.
While this expedition’s dives will focus on engineering and pilot training and practice, we invite the public to join the journey. Once we achieve our shakedown objectives, we hope to explore seamounts, deep-sea coral habitats, abyssal habitats, maritime heritage sites, and the water column.
All things permitting, dives will be livestreamed most days, May 17-June 4, from approximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. HST/2 to 11 p.m. EDT. Dates and times are subject to change. Midway through the expedition, dive times may shift to accommodate 12-hour operations. Stay tuned for more information.
What Are You Seeing?
When Okeanos Explorer is underway on an expedition, this page will broadcast streams from the ship. What is being shown on the different video streams may change depending on the exploration and operations at hand.
Note that occasionally on the feeds, you will see two red dots; these laser points are 10 centimeters (almost four inches) apart and are used by scientists to determine the sizes of things that they are seeing.
All views and opinions expressed in this video feed are those of the speaker and are not attributable to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or other federal agency.
What Are You Hearing?
Audio is only available during dives, when the remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are in the water. Audio from ship-to-shore science conversations is available on Camera 1. Audio from the ROV pilots is available through Camera 2. Audio from both science participants and ROV pilots is available on Camera 3; to hear more or less of one of the conversations on Camera 3, adjust the audio settings on your computer to shift the balance right or left, for more science and less pilots or vice versa.
All views and opinions expressed in this video feed are those of the speaker and are not attributable to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or other federal agency.