Robotic arm pushes a clear cylindrical core tube into a sandy, rocky seabed to collect a sediment sample.
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Push Core
Remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer is used to collect a push core sediment sample from the floor of the caldera explored during Dive 01 of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition. When fully submerged, the push core did not hit hard substrate, suggesting that the sediment depth in the caldera was greater than 30 centimeters (12 inches).
Credit

NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration