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Topic: Okeanos Explorer

The remotely operated vehicle, Deep Discoverer, imaging the deep seafloor off American Samoa

NOAA and partners to explore, map deep waters of American Samoa

August 17, 2026

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Okeanos Explorer

seafloor mapping

deep seabed mining

The remotely operated vehicle, Deep Discoverer, imaging the deep seafloor off American Samoa

The golden orb specimen, being held by a person with blue rubber gloves, in the lab at the Smithsonian Institute.

Scientists reveal identity of mysterious ‘golden orb’ collected during NOAA expedition

April 22, 2026

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ocean exploration

Okeanos Explorer

The golden orb specimen, being held by a person with blue rubber gloves, in the lab at the Smithsonian Institute.

A scorpion fish, seen next to a mushroom coral, observed at 460 meters (1,509 feet) depth during the Deep-Sea Symphony: Exploring the Musicians Seamounts (EX1708) expedition in 2017 as part of the Campaign to Address Pacific monument Science, Technology, and Ocean NEeds (CAPSTONE).

Explore the deep waters of Hawaii and Johnston Atoll live with NOAA

April 10, 2024

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ocean exploration

Okeanos Explorer

A scorpion fish, seen next to a mushroom coral, observed at 460 meters (1,509 feet) depth during the Deep-Sea Symphony: Exploring the Musicians Seamounts (EX1708) expedition in 2017 as part of the Campaign to Address Pacific monument Science, Technology, and Ocean NEeds (CAPSTONE).

This unidentified specimen, photographed in the wet lab on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, was seen and collected on August 30, 2023, during Dive 07 of the Seascape Alaska 5: Gulf of Alaska Remotely Operated Vehicle Exploration and Mapping expedition.

Researchers discover mysterious 'golden orb' in depths of Alaska waters

September 8, 2023

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Okeanos Explorer

This unidentified specimen, photographed in the wet lab on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, was seen and collected on August 30, 2023, during Dive 07 of the Seascape Alaska 5: Gulf of Alaska Remotely Operated Vehicle Exploration and Mapping expedition.

Emily Narrow, mission videographer, enjoys the sunset over the Pacific Ocean from the back deck of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, during the NOAA Ocean Exploration mission: Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific Marine Protected Areas In 2017.

NOAA researchers explore Alaska's deep waters

July 19, 2023

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Okeanos Explorer

Emily Narrow, mission videographer, enjoys the sunset over the Pacific Ocean from the back deck of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, during the NOAA Ocean Exploration mission: Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific Marine Protected Areas In 2017.

This sculpin was observed resting on a large red tree coral during a 2016 expedition in Glacier Bay National Park. Red tree corals have been shown to be the foundation of diverse deepwater communities in Alaska and are one of the types of corals we hope to see during the Seascape Alaska 3: Aleutians Remotely Operated Vehicle Exploration and Mapping expedition.

Dive deep into Alaska's waters: Tune in live with researchers aboard Okeanos Explorer

July 14, 2023

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Okeanos Explorer

ocean exploration

This sculpin was observed resting on a large red tree coral during a 2016 expedition in Glacier Bay National Park. Red tree corals have been shown to be the foundation of diverse deepwater communities in Alaska and are one of the types of corals we hope to see during the Seascape Alaska 3: Aleutians Remotely Operated Vehicle Exploration and Mapping expedition.

A diversity of animals that live at seep sites is inspiring. On this cluster of Vestimentiferan tube worms seen off the West Coast, there are snail egg cases, an octopus, and a other tiny organisms tucked in every crevice possible.

Watch live April 15-26: NOAA expedition to the deep ocean off the U.S. West Coast

April 14, 2023

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ocean exploration

Okeanos Explorer

A diversity of animals that live at seep sites is inspiring. On this cluster of Vestimentiferan tube worms seen off the West Coast, there are snail egg cases, an octopus, and a other tiny organisms tucked in every crevice possible.

A shipwreck comes into view during a Windows to the Deep dive in 2021.

NOAA discovers SS Bloody Marsh, World War II ship torpedoed by U-boat

November 1, 2021

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ocean exploration

Okeanos Explorer

A shipwreck comes into view during a Windows to the Deep dive in 2021.

Pink bubblegum coral and a sea star

Watch live: NOAA explorers help unlock mysteries of undersea mountains

June 29, 2021

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ocean exploration

Okeanos Explorer

Pink bubblegum coral and a sea star

This image shows the topography of the Okeanos Explorer Seamount, a 4,711 foot feature located south of Midway Islands within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. NOAA scientists first mapped the seamount in March 2016 using shipboard mapping sonars and then explored it with OER’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Deep Discoverer during the 2016 Hohonu Moana expedition.

Seamounts named to honor NOAA, partners’ role in ocean exploration

August 13, 2020

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ocean exploration

Okeanos Explorer

This image shows the topography of the Okeanos Explorer Seamount, a 4,711 foot feature located south of Midway Islands within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. NOAA scientists first mapped the seamount in March 2016 using shipboard mapping sonars and then explored it with OER’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Deep Discoverer during the 2016 Hohonu Moana expedition.

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