NOAA-Supported Expedition on E/V Nautilus to Explore Deep Waters of the Cook Islands
October 1-21, tune in live and virtually join an expedition that includes seafloor mapping and remotely operated vehicle operations to explore previously unsurveyed deep-sea areas prioritized by scientific experts, the Cook Islands government, and local stakeholder input.
During the NOAA-supported Deep-Sea Habitats of the Cooks Islands expedition on Exploration Vessel Nautilus, the team will use Ocean Exploration Trust’s remotely operated vehicle Hercules, seen here, to explore sites on the Manihiki Plateau. Image courtesy of Ocean Exploration Trust. Download largest version (jpg, 247 KB).
Located in the South-Central Pacific, the Cook Islands is comprised of 15 islands surrounded by over 770,000 square miles of ocean, the vast majority of which remain unmapped and unexplored. This October, you are invited to follow along online as the team on Ocean Exploration Trust’s Exploration Vessel Nautilus explores abyssal plains, seamounts, and other features, collecting data and information needed to support the management of marine resources in the region.
All operations during the Deep-Sea Habitats of the Cook Islands expedition will be streamed live to the Nautilus Live website. You are invited to tune in:
What: Remotely operated vehicle dives to image and catalog seabed and biological composition
When: Dives are scheduled to stream live starting Thursday, October 2; follow Nautilus on social media (X and Instagram) for dive alerts and updates
Where to watch: Nautilus Live website: https://NautilusLive.org
The Deep-Sea Habitats of the Cook Islands expedition is supported by NOAA Ocean Exploration via the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute, in partnership with Ocean Exploration Trust and the Cook Islands Seabed Mineral Authority. Expedition plans were developed in close partnership with the Cook Islands government as part of the recently announced cooperation between the United States and the Cook Islands to advance scientific research and the possible development of seabed mineral resources in the region.
During the expedition, mapping, telepresence, and remotely operated vehicle systems on E/V Nautilus will allow the collection of high-resolution visual observations of the seafloor, as well as environmental data and physical samples, to support studies on the biological and geological context of abyssal plain habitats and the Manihiki Plateau. All data collected during the expedition will be made publicly available, helping support ongoing local management and future decision-making by Cook Islanders.