Deep-Sea Habitats in the Mariana Islands I

Happy Birthday to OET's founder and CEO, Dr. Robert Ballard! Dr. Ballard will be sailing on the NA179 expedition as the Lead Scientist. 

During the NA179 expedition, we'll be launching both ROV Hercules and ROV Little Hercules to explore various habitats around the Mariana Islands. Hercules will explore (and hopefully sample) seamounts up to 4,000 meters deep, while Little Hercules will provide visual surveys of abyssal plain habitats up to 6,000 meters deep.

While exploring the Marianas, OET's ROVs Hercules and Little Hercules, alongside WHOI's AUV Sentry and Waveglider, will work together to put eyes on parts of the seafloor never before surveyed. For the first expedition (NA179), we'll be focusing on the southern area east of the Mariana Trench. The next expedition, NA180, will focus on sites further north.