Seirios captured this image of Little Herc examining deep corals along the West Florida Escarpment. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Gulf of Mexico 2012. Download larger version (jpg, 1.0 MB).
Seirios captured this image of Little Herc examining deep corals along the West Florida Escarpment. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Gulf of Mexico 2012. Download larger version (jpg, 1.0 MB).
There are many different measures of success during a particular dive, let alone an entire expedition. Today's dive at the base of the West Florida Escarpment in DeSoto Canyon Lease Block 673 proved to be a great one for all involved. As the ROV ascended a nearly vertical section of Escarpment, the lights on Little Herc and Seirios illuminated a 'forest' of deep corals. Several of the corals were new to scientists both on the ship and on shore. All too soon, it was time to return to the surface. As Little Herc and Seirios left the bottom, everyone agreed, "We have to come back here!" That summed up one of our major measures of success – identifying priority targets for future exploration and research.
