At 1000 local, the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer departed Tampa, Florida, to start Leg II of the Gulf of Mexico 2012 Expedition. The 2012 field season officially began when the ship left Davisville, Rhode Island, just over a month ago on February 14. After successful shakedown and mapping operations in the Western North Atlantic Ocean, the ship transited into the Gulf of Mexico and mapped a large portion of the DeSoto Canyon during Leg I. That data and information will be essential for upcoming remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations during Legs II and III. Everyone on board spent the last several days making final preparations for the first expedition of the year to combine ROV, mapping, and telepresence operations.