Science Team Lead Chris German serves as an Okeanos Explorer Watch Leader during ROV operations, communicating with many scientists ashore in real-time and ensuring their broader interests are incorporated into the dive.

Science Team Lead Chris German serves as an Okeanos Explorer Watch Leader during ROV operations, communicating with many scientists ashore in real-time and ensuring their broader interests are incorporated into the dive. Image courtesy of NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program, MCR Expedition 2011. Download larger version (jpg, 1.2 MB).

The First ROV Dive of the Expedition was Successfully Completed Today
August 5, 2011

The first ROV dive of the expedition was successfully completed today at the Von Damm hydrothermal vent site, approximately 2300m deep. A systematic video survey was conducted to explore the extent of the site and search for "hotspots" of activity to be looked at in greater detail during tomorrow's dive. Shore-side participants were engaged in the expedition through "telepresence" - many for the first time - contributing observations and expertise to ongoing operations. And for the first time, all three video feeds and embedded audio streamed off the ship were made available to the public online, enabling users from around the globe to join our exploration more than 2300m deep beneath the surface of the sea in real-time.