The 2011 field season is underway. Follow the adventures of our ocean explorers on the Web offerings below. You can also retrace the previous ten field seasons.
Click here for Okeanos Explorer Expeditions
2011 Signature Explorations
Bermuda Deep Water Caves 2011: Dives of Discovery(June) Some of the world’s foremost technical divers are using state of the art equipment to explore Bermuda's deep water caves. Join them as they examine the unique characteristics of Bermuda's shelf edge in order to learn about climate and sea level changes since the last Ice Age.
Exploring the Hidden World of the Maritime Maya 2011(September) Join us as an interdisciplinary expedition explores the forgotten world of the Maya in the Yucatan along the tip of Quintana Roo. See how the Maya maritime trade network was able to thrive in a challenging coastal environment that stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the Caribbean.
2011 Summary Explorations
New Frontiers in Ocean Exploration 2011A multi-institute initiative is conducting ocean exploration projects in the Black, Aegean, and Mediterranean Seas, and the eastern Atlantic Ocean over a five-month period.
Exploring the Submerged New World 2011(August) Join scientists as they return to the four dive sites they visited in 2009, to study the biology, geology and oceanography of a series of canyons off the middle Atlantic coast of the U.S.
Deep-Water Mid-Atlantic Canyons Exploration 2011(June) This project represents a major systematic exploration of submarine canyons on the continental margin of the eastern United States. Scientists will use data and information to improve knowledge of the type and extent of unique deep-water communities in the mid-Atlantic canyons.
Pacific Deep Reefs 2011(February-March) In this deep-diving expedition to the Southern Pacific, scientists characterized deep reef communities and began the task of assessing organisms for their biotechnology potential.
2010 Signature Explorations
Lophelia II 2010: Oil Seeps and Deep Reefs(October) Scientists aboard the NOAA ship Ronald H. Brown set off on their fourth expedition to investigate the deep-water coral communities of the Gulf of Mexico.
Cradle of the Earthquake: Exploring the Underwater San Andreas Fault 2010(September) Using a multidisciplinary approach including mapping, core sampling and "green" vessel technology, scientists explore this famous—if still relatively unknown—underwater fault off Northern California's coast.
Thunder Bay 2010: Cutting Edge Technology and the Hunt for Lake Huron’s Lost Ships(August) Thunder Bay 2010 will bring cutting-edge shipwreck finding technology to Lake Huron’s “shipwreck alley”- the stretch of Lake Huron just off the northeastern Michigan coast that has claimed hundreds of ships.
INSPIRE: Chile Margin 2010(February) A diverse team of scientists will be tackling questions about strange new biological life forms, communities, and ecosystems far from the sunlit surface at the Chilean Triple Junction.
2010 Summary Explorations
Stellwagen Bank NMS 2010(August-September) A high-resolution systematic survey of a large area along the shipping routes used by Massachusetts’ oldest ports, seeking to locate historic shipwrecks and possibly a shipwreck from the earliest periods of United States history.
Aquarius 2010: If Reefs Could Talk(October) NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will host this research and education mission bringing the science of ocean conservation and the underwater world to the public during live internet broadcasts from the Aquarius undersea laboratory in the Florida Keys.
Extended Continental Shelf Project 2010(August-September) The 2010 Extended Continental Shelf survey is a 5-week-long arctic mapping expedition involving two icebreakers: U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy and the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Louis S. St-Laurent.
Florida Shelf Edge Exploration 2010(July-August) A science team on the research vessel Seward Johnson left from Fort Pierce, Fla. in early July to go to the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
Sea of Cortez Expedition 2010(April - May) This unique expedition took place in Ballena Bay just off the Isla Espíritu Santo. Discover why scientists hope their findings will give them a better understanding of human migration into the New World.
2009 Signature Explorations
Bermuda: Search for Deep Water Caves 2009(December) Join scientists as they set out on a series of expeditions in the seas surrounding Bermuda, searching for deep water caves.
Russian-U.S. Arctic Census 2009(November) During the 2009 Russian-American Long-Term Census of the Arctic (RUSALCA) expedition, scientists will again visit the Bering Strait and northwards to the Pacific side of the Arctic Ocean, as they did in 2004.
Exploring the Submerged New World 2009(October) Join our scientists as they explore the North American Florida Middle Grounds for traces of early human occupation on a submerged late Pleistocene landscape.
Lophelia II 2009: Deepwater Coral Expedition: Reefs, Rigs, and Wrecks(August) Return with scientists to the Gulf of Mexico as they collect data related to cold water corals: their habitats, their levels of genetic connectivity, and the distribution of their communities.
Bioluminescence 2009: Living Light on the Deep Sea Floor(July) Join our scientists as they explore the fascinating phenomenon of bioluminescence, rarely found on land, yet common in species throughout the world ocean.
2009 Summary Explorations
Northeast Lau Response Cruise (NELRC)(May) Travel with scientists as they visit the sites of two recent underwater volcano eruptions in the NE Lau Basin, and discover new insights on eruptive phenomena in this environment.
Extended Continental Shelf Project 2009(August) NOAA will join a multi-agency joint expedition that will bring together icebreakers from the U.S. and Canada to collect and share data useful to both countries in defining the full extent of the Arctic continental shelf.
Bahamas Deep-Sea Corals 2009(March) Corals in the deep sea? When asked to describe corals, most people think of those that make up tropical, shallow-water reefs like the Great Barrier Reef. See what scientist discovered in the North Atlantic waters deeper than 1000 meters.
2008 Signature Explorations
Lophelia II 2008: Deepwater Coral Expedition: Reefs, Rigs, and Wrecks(September) Scientists will use a combination of remote sensing, quantitative community collections, and genetic analyses to further our understanding of cold water corals and the communities associated with them.
Thunder Bay Sinkholes 2008(September) Follow scientists as they explore shallow and deep coastal sinkholes in Lake Huron to understand the unique ecology found in these systems.
AUVfest 2008: Navy Mine-Hunting Robots help NOAA Explore Sunken History(May) Learn how autonomous underwater vehicles are being used to discover and study shipwrecks off Newport, Rhode Island.
Bonaire 2008: Exploring Coral Reef Sustainability with New Technologies(January) This expedition will use AUVs to survey the most pristine coral reef environment in the Caribbean.
2008 Summary Explorations
The Northeastern Gulf of Mexico 2008(July) A team of Maritime archaeologists return to the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico to study the inundated late pleistocene landscapes and how these features may give clues to Florida's first Snowbirds.
The Search for Trouvadore 2008(October) A team of Maritime archaeologists return to the wreck sites of the slave ship Trouvadore, first identified during a 2006 expedition off the coast of East Caicos in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
2007 Signature Explorations
Exploring the Inner Space of the Celebes Sea 2007(September - October) Our expedition takes us to unexplored waters south of the Philippine Islands, in search of the strange, and possibly unknown, fishes, jellyfish, squids and shrimp that live in the dark deep waters of the Celebes Sea.
Submarine Ring of Fire 2007(July - August) Scientists return to the Kermadec Arc, to explore in great detail the Brothers submarine volcano. This will mark the most comprehensive exploration of this type of arc volcano and is one of the most vigorous geothermaly active yet discovered.
Okeanos Explorer: A New Paradigm for Exploration(August) Telepresence technology is used to provide scientists and the public video, images and data in real time.
Expedition to the Deep Slope 2007(June) This year's mission revisits previous discoveries and explores new areas in the Gulf of Mexico.
Cayman Islands Twilight Zone 2007(May) Follow highly trained technical divers as they mount an expedition into the rarely explored Cayman Islands Twilight Zone.
2007 Summary Explorations
Cumberland Club 2007(June) The Hampton Roads Naval Museum and NOAA held a summer enrichment program, giving students the opportunity to experience being a historian, archeologist and marine-scientist.
2006 Signature Explorations
Operation Laser Line 2006(November) Follow explorers as they use new laser technology to examine coral reefs, fishing sites and a WWII aircraft wreck off the coast of Maui.
Project PHAEDRA 2006(June - July) An international team of engineers, geologists, geochemists, and historians explored deep sites within Greek national waters.
Olympic Coast 2006(May - June) In the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, a research team documented deep-sea coral and sponge communities.
Expedition to the Deep Slope 2006(May - June) Scientists conducted the first systematic exploration of hydrocarbon seep communities in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Submarine Ring of Fire 2006(April - May) Scientists return to explore active submarine volcanoes lying along the Mariana Arc, extending for more than 800 nautical miles.
Davidson Seamount: Exploring Ancient Coral Gardens(January - February) This mission explored the cold waters of the Davidson Seamount, 4,100 to 12,000 feet deep (1250 to 3660 meters), off the Central California coastline.
2006 Summary Explorations
Sounds of the Southern Ocean 2006(November - December) A team travels to the Antarctic to study the dynamic tectonic and volcanic environment of the Bransfield Strait and Drake Passage.
NEW ZEEPS 06(November) Discover the unusual forms of life that exist in the cold, deep waters off New Zealand.
Tracking Narwhals in Greenland(August - March) Scientists attach sensors to deep-diving narwhals to uncover their secrets and better understand Arctic waters.
South Atlantic Bight 2006(August) Advanced sonar is used to rapidly map the continental shelf off South Carolina.
The Search for Trouvadore(July) A team of explorers uncovers the history of the 19th century slave trade as they search for the wreck of the Trouvadore.
Aegean and Black Sea 2006(April - June) Explore this ancient crossroads of maritime activity with Dr. Robert Ballard, discoverer of the Titanic.
Alaska's Submerged Heritage 2006(April - April) Nearly half of the United States ocean coastline falls within the boundaries of the state of Alaska. The state’s continental shelf is the final resting place for more than 4,000 known shipwrecks. See how scientists discovered some of Alaska's submerged heritage.
FY'06 Field Season Overview (pdf, 160kb)
Complete list of NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration expeditions and projects.
2005 Signature Explorations
GalAPAGoS: Where Ridge Meets Hotspot(December - January) This expedition surveyed the ocean floor north of the Galapagos Islands for underwater volcanoes and oceanic hotspots.
Florida Coast Deep Corals 2005(November) Unlike shallow water tropical reefs, deep-water reefs are not well known. The data gathered during the Florida Coast Deep Corals 2005 expedition provided a strong foundation of information on the deep-water coral ecosystems off the Florida coast.
Life on the Edge 2005(October - November) Scientists returned to the waters off the East Coast of the U.S. to explore the continental slope coral ecosystems. Increasing evidence shows that deep water corals are important fish habitats, hold data on ocean climate and productivity, and are hotspots for biodiversity.
Operation Deep Scope 2005(August - September) Scientists returned to explore the benthic creatures of the Northern Gulf of Mexico, hoping to continue an astonishing array of discoveries, including that of a fluorescent shark, fluorescent methane hydrates, and a new species of large deep-sea squid.
North Atlantic Stepping Stones 2005(August - September) Scientists studied the very old New England and Corner Stone seamount chains to help them understand the distribution of deep-sea biodiversity.
The Lost City 2005(July - August) This exploration introduced a new methodology for marine fieldwork. Scientists used satellites to view and analyze data without being on a ship at sea.
The Hidden Ocean, Arctic 2005(June - July) Scientists participated in a collaborative effort to explore the frigid depths of the Canada Basin, located in one of the deepest parts of the Arctic Ocean.
New Zealand American Submarine Ring of Fire 2005(April - May) Join scientist as they explore the active submarine volcanoes along the Kermadec Arc, located north of New Zealand, with a pair of manned submersibles the PISCES IV and V.
2005 Summary Explorations
Sounds of the Southern Ocean(December) Scientists deployed an array of Autonomous Underwater Hydrophones (AUH). When the AUH array is recovered in 2006, captured sounds will enable identification of volcanically active regions on the seafloor, as well as the location of critical habitat for baleen whales.
Aquarius Habitat(July) This year's project was an intensive week of ocean science and discovery for a nationally selected group of six Girl Scouts.
Galápagos Rift 2005(May - June) Scientists returned to a discovery found just over a quarter-century ago, on the bottom of the eastern Pacific Ocean that forever changed our understanding of our planet, and life on it.
Vailulu’u 2005(March - July) Join scientists as they explore the Vailulu'u underwater volcano that lies approximately 20 miles east of Ta'u Island in American Samoa.
2004 Signature Explorations
Estuary to the Abyss(August) Scientists worked along a "Latitude 31-30 Transect" line that extends from the coast to the deep sea. The expedition concentrated on deeper waters (greater than 400 m) of the Transect, to complement previous studies of shallow-water faunas.
Operation Deep Scope(August) The science team used advanced camera systems and light-tight traps to explore the benthic creatures of the Northern Gulf of Mexico - one of the most geologically complex regions on the planet.
Gulf of Alaska 2004(August) The expedition party dove to 3,500 meters to conduct biological and geological investigations on 5 submerged volcanoes over a 400 nautical mile section of the Northeast Pacific.
Mountains in the Sea 2004(May) Scientists returned to document and try to understand the octocoral communities of the New England Seamounts.
Submarine Ring of Fire 2004(March - April) An interdisciplinary team of scientists returned to the submarine volcanoes of the Mariana Arc to explore, utilizing an underwater tethered robot (ROPOS).
2004 Summary Explorations
Hunt for the USS Alligator(Summer) This schooner served a brief but remarkable naval career. Read about its unique history and distinction as the earliest naval shipwreck in Florida waters.
Aquarius Habitat 2004Two opportunities exist to visit the world’s only undersea laboratory. Read about an essay contest and a Girl Scout project.
Deep Water Macroalgal Meadows 2004(September-December) Discover why the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands are rich with a high diversity of tropical algae (seaweed, or limu) and other marine life.
Search for the USS 0-9(September) Read about a marine archaeology expedition trying to shed some light on what happened to this ill-fated American submarine.
Deep Sea Precious Corals(October) Scientists will examine the coral-associated invertebrate fauna at three large precious coral beds in the Hawaiian Archipelago, the Makapu'u Bed, on the southeast slope of Oahu, the Keahole Bed, on the western slope of Hawaii, and the Cross Seamount Bed.
The Ocracoke Shipwreck Survey 2004(August-October) The Ocracoke Shipwreck Survey seeks to discover the remains of America's lost maritime heritage through exploration and discovery of submerged cultural resources, primarily focusing on shipwrecks.
WW II Shipwreck Survey(July-August) Scientists ventured into the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico to learn the long-term effect of manmade structures on the deep sea, and conversely, the effect of the environment on those structures.
Russian-U.S. Arctic Census 2004(July-August) A team of U.S. and Russian scientists embarked on an exploration of the Bering and Chukchi Seas, an area thought be particularly sensitive to global climate change.
Kad'yak 2004(July) Investigate the wreck of the Kad'yak, a Russian-American Company bark-rigged sailing vessel. In the final years before the United States purchased Alaska in 1867, the ship carried trade goods between Russian settlements and the Hawaiian Islands.
Life on the Edge 2004(June) A collaborative team of scientists, continued and expanded their work in these deep water habitats.
Titanic 2004(May-June) Nearly 20 years after first finding the sunken remains of the R.M.S. Titanic, marine explorer Robert Ballard returned to help study the ship's rapid deterioration.
Sunken Warbirds(May) Aircraft wrecks lost in Lake Michigan have long held Navy interest. Read about this first survey opportunity.
2003 Signature Explorations
Submarine Ring of Fire 2003(February - March) An interdisciplinary team of scientists explored the submarine volcanoes of the Mariana Arc lying north of Guam in the western Pacific.
Mountains in the Sea(July) Explorers visited several little known seamounts in the North Atlantic to study various aspects of deep-sea octocorals and other organisms living on and around these submerged mountains.
Windows to the Deep(July-August) Scientists used the Alvin submersible and other tools to explore the biology, physics, and chemistry of seafloor methane seeps at water depths of 2,000m to 2,800m off the coast of the southeastern U.S.
Charleston Bump(August) Scientists investigated how fishes and invertebrates adapt to a variety of bottom habitats and strong, shifting currents along the rocky, erosion resistant Charleston Bump.
Life on the Edge(August) A team examined unexplored deep reef habitats off the Carolinas and defined their faunal composition.
Deep Sea Medicines(September) A team studied marine organisms found in deep water habitats in the Gulf of Mexico as potential sources of new drugs.
Steamship Portland(September) The ship and all aboard were lost in 1898 during a massive storm off New England. A team dove on the wreck to unravel the mystery behind the sinking.
Gulf of Mexico Habitats(September - October) An interdisciplinary scientific team spent 12 days exploring deep sea coral habitats in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.
2003 Summary Explorations
Puerto Rico Trench(February - March) A science team attempted to develop the first coherent high-resolution bathymetric map of the Puerto Rico Trench.
Gulf of Mexico Deep Sea Biology(February) A student team studied the reproductive biology and biochemistry of cold-seep mussels and various other seasonally reproducing deep-sea animals.
Kick'em Jenny Volcano(March) A science team evaluated the most active underwater volcano in the West Indies.
Titanic(June) A team conducted four Mir dives to the Titanic in order to assess the wreck site and conduct scientific observations to support ongoing research.
Quest for the Gaspee(August-October) The British warship Gaspee's burning by disgruntled colonists in 1773 ranks alongside the Boston Tea Party as a galvanizing step on the road to the American Revolution. A team looked for the sunken vessel this summer.
Arctic 2003(September) A team mapped parts of the world’s least explored ocean. The expedition will cover the Chukchi and Northwind Ridge.
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI)(September - November) A multidisciplinary team explored the pristine reefs and seamounts of the NWHI, a remote chain of small islands and atolls stretching 1,200 nautical miles northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands.
U-166(October) In July 1942, the German U-boat 166 was attacked and sank by the U.S. Navy. The science team that discovered the wreck in 2001 returned to study the submarine.
Aquarius Habitat 2003Two opportunities exist to visit the world’s only undersea laboratory. Read about an essay contest and a Girl Scout project.
2002 Signature Explorations
Sanctuary Quest(April - September) focused on research, exploration, and monitoring within and adjacent to a system of national marine sanctuaries along the Pacific coast.
Davidson Seamount(May) A team explored the California seamount with remotely operated vehicles. Extensive video surveying and biological sampling shed light on this little known undersea island.
Galapagos Rift(May - June) is home to deep-sea hydrothermal vents and their spectacular animal communities. Scientists returned to the site where they were discovered 25 years ago.
Exploring Alaska's Seamounts(June - July) was a mission to study several unexplored seamounts in the Gulf of Alaska to understand how they formed and determine their volcanic history.
Submarine Ring of Fire 2002(June - August) An interdisciplinary exploration team used new technology to investigate the birth of new ocean crust off the coast of western North America, part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire."
Monitor Expedition 2002(June - October) was the final phase of a multi-year effort to recover this famous Civil War ironclad. In the most difficult challenge of the recovery mission, the team raised the revolving gun turret and two 11-inch Dahlgren cannons
Islands in the Stream 2002(July - August) was a mission to characterize deep reef habitats along the continental shelf break and slope from the eastern coast of Florida to North Carolina - an area known as the 'South Atlantic Bight'.
Gulf of Mexico(June - October) An exploration team explored and studied the communities of animals found around deep-sea oil seeps to improve our understanding of the lush habitats that thrive in the absence of sunlight.
Arctic Exploration(August - September) An international team explored the frigid depths of the remote Canada Basin, located in the Arctic Ocean. Due to the region's heavy year-round ice cover, this expedition was the first one of its kind.
Hudson Canyon(August - September) An exploration team mapped a significant portion of the slope and rise to the east and west of the Hudson Canyon, off New York and New Jersey.
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands(September - November) A team of scientists traveled to the NW Hawaiian Islands, a very remote chain of small islands and atolls, to view unexplored seamounts and map pristine coral reefs.
2002 Summary Explorations
Tribal Journeys(August) was an event among many in a cultural resurgence among Northwest Coast Native Americans and First Nations. Staff from NOAA’s Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary played a small role in helping, and documented the journey as a gift to the Tribes and Nations.
Census of Marine Life(CoML) is an international research effort that strives to assess and explain the diversity, distribution and abundance of marine organisms throughout the world’s oceans. Read about some of these efforts.
Continuing the Lewis & Clark Legacy(August) Based on the exciting results of last year’s mission to Heceta Bank, an exploration team used modern tools to study the submerged ancient shorelines of the northwest coast.
The Sustainable Seas Expeditions(July - August) was a five-year project of underwater exploration and discovery of the marine world with special emphasis on the National Marine Sanctuaries of the United States.
AquariusLocated 20 meters beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean, next to deep coral reefs in the Florida Keys. Aquarius is the world’s only undersea laboratory. Read about an essay contest and a Girl Scout project.
Sound in the Sea - SIRENA(May-June) Scientists sailed on the French research vessel Le Suroit to deploy six continuously recording hydrophones around the Mid-Atlantic Ridge north of the Azores.
The Link Project: A Partnership between NOAA and NASA(Spring) fosters collaboration between ocean and space scientists and engineers, and promotes the benefits to humankind of ocean and space exploration, research and related technology development.
2001 Signature Explorations
Preserving the USS Monitor(April - October) focused on the midsummer recovery of the Monitor's engine, a key step toward recovering of the ship's central turret. This is part of a multiyear project designed to preserve this historic Civil War vessel for future generations.
Islands in the Stream(May - August) explored coral reef and hard-bottom communities throughout the Gulf of Mexico. A special focus was the effects of currents on the life cycles and migration patterns of various species.
Continuing the Lewis and Clark Legacy(June - July) A team mapped the Columbia River's offshore canyon and characterized its physical and biological systems. Astoria Canyon, the westernmost portion of the river's drainage system, is a virtually unexplored biological haven.
Sound in the Sea: Acoustic Monitoring at Pioneer Seamount(August) A team improved our understanding of the sources of ocean noise by installing a vertical hydrophone array off the coast of central California.
Deep East: Deep Sea Resources off the U.S. Eastern Seaboard(September) A team characterized deep-sea ecosystems from New England to Georgia with a manned submersible. The three target areas included Georges Bank Canyons, Hudson Canyon and Blake Ridge.
2001 Summary Explorations
Laser Line Scan (LLS)(November 2001) is an electro-optic imaging technique designed to provide the efficiency and spatial coverage of a remote survey system, at an image resolution approaching that of visual observations. It was field tested off the California coast.
Next Generation Tools: Multibeam Side-scan Sonar(June-July 2001) used an experimental system, one of only three in the world, to characterize very small-scale environments in Alaska.
Thunder Bay ECHO: Acoustic Surveying of Shipwreck Alley(June 2001) used a new side-scan sonar system to identify shipwrecks in this historic area that recently became the 13th U.S. National Marine Sanctuary. More than 100 vessels are believed to rest here, but only 40 had been located prior to this mission.
