Status: 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration
From August 20 to September 17, NOAA Ocean Exploration and partners will conduct the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer to explore deep waters in and around American Samoa. This expedition will include remotely operated vehicle dives to explore the seafloor and water column, overnight mapping operations, and continuous shore-side participation via telepresence technology.
Throughout the expedition, video will be streamed online in real time from approximately 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. SST / 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. EDT, August 23-September 12 (subject to change). During dives, we expect to explore abyssal seafloor features, deep-sea coral and sponge habitats, seamounts, marine critical minerals, and the water column of American Samoa.
August 29, 2026
Dive 03: North Tutuila Flank
Today’s dive will take place on a geological feature on the northern flank of Tutuila island. The dive will start at approximately 1,380 meters (4,530 feet) depth and climb to approximately 1,240 meters (4,070 feet). Objectives of the dive include the collection of volcanic rocks, push core sediment, water samples for environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis, and biological samples. Dives were conducted along the northern flank of Tutuila in 2024 during the E Mamana Ou Gataifale II expedition on Exploration Vessel Nautilus.
- Estimated vehicle launch: 8:30 a.m. SST / 9:30 a.m. HST / 12:30 p.m. PDT / 3:30 p.m. EDT
- Estimated seafloor arrival: 9:30 a.m. SST / 10:30 a.m. HST / 1:30 p.m. PDT / 4:30 p.m. EDT
- Estimated seafloor departure: 5:50 p.m. SST / 6:50 p.m. HST / 9:50 p.m. PDT / 12:50 a.m. EDT
*Plans and times subject to change
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. On all 3 streams, audio from science participants is available on the right audio channel, while audio from the ROV pilots is available on the left audio channel.
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.