In June and July 2011, the GALREX 2011 expedition explored the diverse habitats and geologic settings of the deep Galapagos region, including axial volcanic ridges, hydrothermal vents, off-axis sulfide mounds, and seamounts. The discovery of deep-sea hydrothermal vents and associated organisms on the Galapagos Rift (GR) in 1977 profoundly changed our view of the deep-sea and revolutionized the biological and Earth sciences. During the 2011 field season, the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer provided scientists, engineers, and the public with an opportunity to explore unseen areas and revisit historical sites in the GR. More than 40,000km2 of seafloor were mapped by the ship's multibeam sonar, 11 CTD tows completed a ~400 km-long hydrothermal plume survey of the unexplored eastern arm of the Rift, and 12 ROV dives collected more than 90 hours of high-definition digital video. Data and ROV video feeds were transmitted by broadband satellite from the ship to a team of scientists onshore. The expedition team evaluated seafloor observations, directed seafloor ROV, CTD, and mapping operations in real-time, and maintained a portal for outreach.

During August 2011, a team of scientists and technicians both at-sea and on shore conducted exploratory interdisciplinary investigations on the geology, marine life, and hydrothermal systems at the Mid-Cayman Rise.

The 17-day expedition included 10 days of operations at the Mid-Cayman Rise and one day at the Cayman Trough Fracture Zone, southwest of the Cayman Islands and located entirely within their Exclusive Economic Zone.

From March to April 2012, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer conducted exploratory investigations on the diversity and distribution of deep-sea habitats and marine life in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

From March to April 2012, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer conducted exploratory investigations on the diversity and distribution of deep-sea habitats and marine life in the northern Gulf of Mexico. During Leg 3, cold seeps, deep coral communities, undersea canyons, shipwrecks, brine pools, and mud volcanoes were explored.

The first leg of the 2013 Northeast U.S. Canyons Expedition explored diverse habitats and geological settings of the deep canyons region off the Northeast United States. The remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer (ROV D2) completed 16 dives to depths ranging from 500 to 2,200 meters. D2 surveyed four major submarine canyons, including Block, Alvin, Atlantis, and Hydrographer; one unnamed minor canyon; three priority sites considered to be geohazard areas; and three potential (and confirmed) hydrocarbon seep areas.

During Leg 2 of this expedition, ROV Deep Discoverer (D2) completed fifteen dives, ranging in depth from 490 to 3300 m at five named canyons (Nygren, Heezen, Oceanographer, Lydonia, and Welker), one minor canyon (unnamed near Shallop Canyon), two intercanyon sites, two USGS geohazards targets, and Mytilus Seamount. Many of the ROV dives were the first exploration and visual examination of this region.

Okeanos Explorer EX1402 Leg 3 - the final voyage in the series of three ocean exploration cruises as part of the 2014 Gulf of Mexico Expedition conducted 16 highly successful telepresence-enabled remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dives in two different areas of the Gulf:

1. The northwestern part of the basin, characterized by a very thick (~12-14 kilometer) accumulation of sediments mobilized from below by evaporites/salt, and

2. The central part of the Florida Escarpment, the western edge of a thick carbonate platform, and the outer shelf next to it.

From September 4 - September 10, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer deployed the Deep Discoverer and Seirios on three dives in the Canyons along the continental shelf. These canyons proved to be biodiversity hotspots.

From September 16 - October 7, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer deployed the Deep Discoverer and Seirios camera sled on thirteen dives in the Canyons and the New England Seamount Chain. Highlights from these dives include observations of deep sea predation, a series of caves inhabited by octopuses, dragonfish, and several areas of high coral density.

EX1501 will be primarily focused on the annual ship and system shakedown and multibeam patch test operations, EK 80 testing and telepresence shakedown items.

EX1502L1 is a transit and mapping cruise from Rhode Island to Puerto Rico. In addition to seafloor mapping by the Okeanos Explorer (EX), three surveys of opportunity will be hosted by the EX during this cruise: NAVOCEANO gliders deployment on shelf break near British Virgin Islands, exploration of the Muertos Trough and the Puerto Rico Trench via untethered free vehicles, and the NASA Maritime Aerosol Network collection of marine aerosol observations using sun photometers.

EM302 multibeam data will be collected 24 hours a day and will be gathered over previously unexplored regions. Data will be used to better understand the bathymetry of the Puerto Rican trench and allow reconnaissance of the region prior to the ROV cruise. Multibeam operations within 5 miles of land in priority area 1 will be conducted during daylight hours. XBT casts will be conducted at an interval defined by prevailing oceanographic conditions, but not to exceed 6 hours. XBT data will be used to correct the sound velocity of the multibeam data. Additionally, EK 60 (single beam) and sub-bottom profile data will be collected 24 hours per day.

From April 9-30, 2015, NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer, America's Ship for Ocean Exploration, surveyed unknown deep-sea ecosystems and potential geohazards off the coast of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Over 37,500 km square of high-resolution multibeam sonar data was collected, revealing rugged canyons along shelf breaks, intricate incised channels, and large slumps and slope failures. Twelve remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dives, surveyed seamounts, escarpments, and submarine canyons at depths of 300-6,000 m. Additional ROV exploration of the water column occurred at depths of 800-1200 m. Dives included three of the deepest dives ever conducted in the Puerto Rico Trench and the first exploration of Exocet and Whiting seamounts. Discoveries included assemblages of deep-sea corals (>50 species), and observations of several rare and new species. For example, seastar Laetmaster spectabilis had not been documented since its original description in 1881 and a potential new species of benthopelagic ctenophore was observed at 3900 m in the Arecibo Amphitheater. Other expedition highlights included two rarely observed blind octopods (Cirrothauma murrayi); novel observation of a symbiotic association between predatory tunicates with polychaete associates; and approximately 75 species of demersal fishes, including a new species of wrasse and the first records of Shaefer's anglerfish and the ateleopodid jellynose in Puerto Rican waters. ROV dives traversed elements of the complete geological succession from ~1 km deep into the Cretaceous volcanic arc basement, across the carbonate platform sequence unconformity and into the uppermost Pliocene carbonates. Geological highlights included spectacular slope failure headwall scarps and sub-aerial karstic weathering of the youngest carbonates. In addition to the ROV dives, multibeam mapping operations were conducted at night. These efforts enabled mapping of new areas, filling in data holidays and re-mapping areas at higher resolution than what was previously available.

After her latest expedition in the Caribbean, Okeanos Explorer left port in San Juan, Puerto Rico and transited to Panama to position itself for its ultimate destination for the remainder of the FY15 field season and the FY16 and FY17 field seasons working in the northwest Hawaiian Islands for the Campaign to Address Pacific Science, Technology, and Ocean NEeds (CAPSTONE) expedition.

On the transit from Panama to Honolulu, the Okeanos Explorer required emergency dry dock for repairs. EX detoured to Bellingham, Washington for these repairs and then completed the transit to Honolulu.

Multibeam and singlebeam mapping operations will be conducted 24 hours a day throughout the cruise. Sub-bottom profile mapping will be conducted 24 hours a day at the discretion of the CO. Most of the mapping areas to be pursued during this cruise have never been mapped with modern sonar before. Mapping activities will focus on three primary areas, (1) some potential underwater cultural heritage sites south of Oahu, (2) the Necker Island area within the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (PMNM), and (2) the Karin Seamount Chain near Johnston Atoll within the recently expanded Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM).

The ship will conduct 24 hour operations consisting of daytime ROV dives and evening/nighttime mapping operations including during transit. During this cruise we will conduct 8 hour ROV dives on most days with occasional 10 or 12 hour dives on particularly interesting or deep dive sites. ROV operations will focus in depths between 250 and 6,000 meters and will include high-resolution visual surveys and limited sample collection. Mapping operations will be conducted in 250 m of water and deeper, and include transit and overnight multibeam, water column backscatter, and sub-bottom data collection. Opportunistic CTD rosette operations may be requested to collect more information about the environmental parameters at ROV dives sites, or opportunistically at selected sites where collecting the data is considered important to understanding the physical or chemical properties of the overlying water column. ROV and mapping operations will not be conducted in state waters. CTD rosette operations may be requested in state waters.

The ship will conduct 24 hour operations consisting of daytime ROV dives and evening/nighttime mapping operations including during transit. During this cruise we will conduct 8 hour ROV dives on most days with occasional 10 or 12 hour dives (at the ship's discretion) on particularly interesting or deep dive sites. ROV operations will focus on depths between 350 and 3,000 meters and will include high-resolution visual surveys and limited sample collection. Mapping operations will be conducted in 250 m of water and deeper, and include overnight multibeam, water column backscatter, and sub-bottom data collection. Opportunistic CTD rosette operations may be requested to collect more information about the environmental parameters at ROV dives sites, or opportunistically at selected sites where collecting the data is considered important to understanding the physical or chemical properties of the overlying water column.

The ship will conduct 24 hour operations consisting of daytime ROV dives and evening/nighttime mapping operations including during transit. During this cruise we will conduct 8 hour ROV dives on most days with occasional 10 or 12 hour dives on particularly interesting or deep dive sites. ROV operations will focus in depths between 250 and 6,000 meters and will include high-resolution visual surveys and limited sample collection. Mapping operations will be conducted in 250 m of water and deeper, and include transit and overnight multibeam, water column backscatter, and sub-bottom data collection. Opportunistic CTD rosette operations may be requested to collect more information about the environmental parameters at ROV dives sites, or opportunistically at selected sites where collecting the data is considered important to understanding the physical or chemical properties of the overlying water column. ROV and mapping operations will not be conducted in state waters. CTD rosette operations may be requested in state waters.

Throughout this cruise, multibeam data will be collected 24 hours a day and XBT casts will be conducted every 6 hours. Additionally, EK 60 (split beam) and sub-bottom profile data will be collected 24 hours per day, with subbottom profile data collection at the discretion of the CO. Onboard multibeam data processing will be minimal due to limited staffing. Daily or bi-daily multibeam products will be produced according to established shipboard SOP and sent to shore through established shipboard SOP. Onshore mapping physical scientists will monitor data quality, cruise progress, and discovery potential. Raw EK 60 and subbottom data will be sent to the shoreside repository through established shipboard automated archival procedure.

Normal underway operations and mapping patch testing. Bathymetric mapping of either the Murray or Molokai Fracture Zones during the transit to Hawaii is planned, as allowed by equipment shakedown priorities and prevailing sea conditions. CTD casts may be requested at strategic locations along the fracture zone. New equipment in need of shakedown testing includes a new Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) antenna, a new Keyboard-Video-Monitor (KVM) system, new Doppler speed log, four new EK 60 single beam sonars, two new ADCPs, new digital file storage systems, and a newly installed Underway CTD.

Operations will use the ship's deep water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 split-beam fisheries sonars, Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar, Teledyne RDI Workhorse Mariner and Ocean Surveyor ADCPs), NOAA's two-body 6,000 m remotely operated vehicle (ROVs Deep Discoverer and Seirios) system, CTD rosette, and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for real-time ship to shore communications. ROV dives will mostly be conducted during the day, while CTD casts, and multibeam, singlebeam, and sub-bottom acoustic mapping will occur when the ROV is on deck. Exact locations of discrete ROV dives and mapping operations will be determined during the cruise as results of engineering and shakedown tests are evaluated and once weather and operational constraints are factored in.

The ship will conduct 24 hour operations consisting of daytime ROV dives and evening/nighttime mapping operations including during transit. During this cruise we will conduct primarily 8 hour ROV dives with occasional 10 or 12 hour dives on particularly interesting or deep water dive sites, as staffing allows. ROV operations will focus in depths between 250 and 6,000 meters and will include high-resolution visual surveys and limited sample collection. Mapping operations will be conducted in 250 m of water and deeper, and include transit and overnight multibeam, water column backscatter, and sub-bottom data collection. Opportunistic CTD rosette operations may be requested to collect more information about the environmental parameters at ROV dives sites, or opportunistically at selected sites where collecting the data is considered important to understanding the physical or chemical properties of the overlying water column. ROV and mapping operations will not be conducted in state waters. Dive(s) will also be devoted to searching for ship's lost during the World War II Battle of Midway with an emphasis on finding the main wreck of the Japanese Aircraft Carriers Kaga. Data collected by OER that is considered sensitive will be protected from direct public release until such time as a final determination can be made as to permanent protection. If data are found to be sensitive because they reveal the location of a historically significant cultural resource, Section 304 of the National Historic Preservation Act provides that the head of a Federal agency or other public official shall withhold from public disclosure information about the location, character, or ownership of a historic property when disclosure may cause a significant invasion of privacy; risk harm to the historic property; or impede the use of a traditional religious site by practitioners. Data collected by the EX that is considered sensitive will be archived in a location where it can be withheld from public disclosure.

Multibeam and singlebeam mapping operations will be conducted 24 hours a day throughout the cruise. Sub-bottom profile mapping will be conducted 24 hours a day at the discretion of the CO. XBT and/or UnderwayCTD (UCTD) sound velocity casts in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations will be conducted at an interval defined by prevailing oceanographic conditions, but not to exceed 6 hours. All data will be fully processed according to standard onboard procedures and will be archived with the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.

The ship will conduct 24 hour operations consisting of daytime ROV dives and evening/nighttime mapping operations including during transit. During this cruise we will conduct primarily 8 hour ROV dives with occasional 10 or 12 hour dives on particularly interesting or deep water dive sites, as staffing allows. ROV operations will focus in depths between 250 and 6,000 meters and will include high-resolution visual surveys and limited sample collection. Mapping operations will be conducted in 250 m of water and deeper, and include transit and overnight multibeam, water column backscatter, and sub-bottom data collection. Opportunistic CTD rosette operations may be requested to collect more information about the environmental parameters at ROV dives sites, or opportunistically at selected sites where collecting the data is considered important to understanding the physical or chemical properties of the overlying water column.

Operations will use the ship's deep water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 splitbeam fisheries sonars, ADCPs, and Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar), CTD rosette, and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for periodic real-time ship to shore communications. Operations for this cruise will include 24 hour mapping, periodic telepresence-based remote participation, and CTD rosette operations. Multibeam and singlebeam mapping operations will be conducted 24 hours a day throughout the cruise. Sub-bottom profile mapping will be conducted 24 hours a day at the discretion of the CO. XBT and/or UnderwayCTD (UCTD) sound velocity casts in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations will be conducted at an interval defined by prevailing oceanographic conditions, but not to exceed 6 hours.

The ship will conduct 24 hour operations consisting of daytime ROV dives and evening/nighttime mapping operations including during transit. During this cruise we will conduct primarily 8 hour ROV dives with occasional 10 or 12 hour dives on particularly interesting or deep water dive sites, as staffing allows. ROV operations will focus in depths between 250 and 6,000 meters and will include high-resolution visual surveys and limited sample collection. Mapping operations will be conducted in 250 m of water and deeper, and include transit and overnight multibeam, water column backscatter, and sub-bottom data collection. CTD rosette operations are requested at several sites to inform ROV dives, and may be requested opportunistically at selected sites where collecting the data is considered important to understanding the physical or chemical properties of the overlying water column.

Operations will use the ship's deep water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 split-beam fisheries sonars, ADCPs, and Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar), NOAA's two-body 6000 m remotely operated vehicle (ROVs Deep Discoverer and Seirios), CTD rosette, and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for real-time ship to shore communications. Daytime ROV dives are planned most days from July 28 - August 16th and a few dedicated mapping transit days are also expected. ROV dives will include high-resolution visual surveys and limited rock and biologic specimen sampling. Mapping operations will be conducted overnight and when the ROV is on deck. CTD casts may be requested during the cruise to collect more environmental information at sites of interest.

Operations will include 24 hour/day mapping operations using the ship's deep water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 split-beam fisheries sonars, ADCPs, and Knudsen 3260 chirp subbottom profiler sonar), CTD rosette, and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for real-time ship to shore communications. Operations for this cruise will include 24 hour mapping, and continuous telepresence based remote participation in mapping operations. Multibeam and singlebeam mapping operations will be conducted 24 hours a day throughout the cruise. Sub-bottom profile mapping will be conducted 24 hours a day at the discretion of the CO. XBT sound velocity casts in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations will be conducted at an interval defined by prevailing oceanographic conditions, but not to exceed 6 hours.

Operations will use the ship's deep water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 splitbeam fisheries sonars, ADCPs, and Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar), NOAA's two-body 6000 m remotely operated vehicles (ROVs Deep Discoverer and Seirios, and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for real-time ship to shore communications.

Multibeam, split-beam, and/or ADCP sonar mapping operations will be conducted 24 hours a day throughout the cruise. Sub-bottom profile mapping will be conducted periodically during the cruise for testing purposes and is subject to the discretion of the CO. XBT and/or UnderwayCTD sound velocity casts in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations will be conducted at an interval defined by prevailing oceanographic conditions, but not to exceed 6 hours. Multibeam data will be fully processed according to standard onboard procedures and will be archived with the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Split-beam EK60 data and ADCP data will be archived in their raw formats with NCEI as well.

Operations will include the use of the ship's deep water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 split-beam fisheries sonars, ADCPs, and Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar), and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for real-time ship to shore communications. Focused mapping operations will occur in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM)(U.S.) in the vicinity of Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll, and Jarvis Island, as well as in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) (Republic of Kiribati).

Operations for this cruise will be conducted 24 hours/day and consist of daily remotely operated vehicle (ROV), overnight mapping, CTD casts and full shore-based participation via telepresence. Operations will be conducted within several marine protected areas. Operations are planned in the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument, National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, offshore (not within) of the National Park of American Samoa, and the waters of both American Samoa and Samoa.

Operations for this cruise will be conducted 24 hours/day and consist of daily remotely operated vehicle (ROV), overnight mapping, CTD casts and full shore-based participation via telepresence. Operations will be conducted within several marine protected areas.

Operations for this cruise will include 24 hour mapping, and continuous telepresence-based remote participation in mapping operations. Multibeam and splitbeam mapping operations will be conducted 24 hours a day throughout the cruise. Sub-bottom profile mapping will be conducted 24 hours a day at the discretion of the CO. XBT and Underway CTD sound velocity casts in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations will be conducted at an interval defined by prevailing oceanographic conditions, but not to exceed 6 hours. All mapping data will be fully processed according to standard procedures and will be archived with the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).

Operations will include the use of the ship's deep water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 split-beam fisheries sonars, Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar, and Teledyne Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers), XBT and Underway CTD casts in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations, OER's 6000 m two-body ROV Deep Discoverer and Seirios, and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for continuous real-time ship-to-shore communications.

Operations will include the use of the ship's deep water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 split-beam fisheries sonars, Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar, and Teledyne Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers), XBT and Underway CTD casts in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations, OER's 6000 m two-body ROV Deep Discoverer and Seirios, and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for continuous real-time ship-to-shore communications.

Operations for this cruise will include 24 hour mapping, and continuous telepresence-based remote participation in mapping operations. Multibeam and splitbeam mapping operations will be conducted 24 hours a day throughout the cruise. Sub-bottom profile mapping will be conducted 24 hours a day at the discretion of the CO. XBT and Underway CTD sound velocity casts in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations will be conducted at an interval defined by prevailing oceanographic conditions, but not to exceed 6 hours. All mapping data will be fully processed according to standard procedures and will be archived with the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).

Operations for this cruise will be conducted 24 hours/day and consist of daily remotely operated vehicle (ROV), overnight mapping, and full shore-based participation via telepresence. Operations will include the use of the ship's deep water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 split-beam fisheries sonars, Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar, and Teledyne Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers), XBT and CTD casts in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations, OER's two-body ROV Deep Discoverer and Seirios, and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for continuous real-time ship-to-shore communications. Operations are planned in and around Hawaii, the US EEZ, and in the High Seas around the Musicians Seamounts.

Operations for this cruise will include 24 hour mapping, and continuous telepresence-based remote participation in mapping operations. Multibeam and splitbeam mapping operations will be conducted 24 hours a day throughout the cruise, except during CTD operations. Sub-bottom profile mapping will be conducted 24 hours a day at the discretion of the CO. XBT and Underway CTD sound velocity casts in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations will be conducted at an interval defined by prevailing oceanographic conditions, but not to exceed 6 hours.

Multibeam and splitbeam mapping operations will be conducted 24 hours a day throughout the cruise. Sub-bottom profile mapping will be conducted 24 hours a day at the discretion of the CO. XBT and/or Underway CTD sound velocity casts in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations will be conducted at an interval defined by prevailing oceanographic conditions, but not to exceed 6 hours. All mapping data will be fully processed according to standard procedures and will be archived with the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).

Operations will include the use of the ship's deep water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 split-beam fisheries sonars, Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar, and Teledyne Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler), XBT and CTD casts in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations, OER's two-body ROV Deep Discoverer and Seirios, and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for continuous real-time ship-to-shore communications.

Operations will include the use of the ship's deep water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 split-beam fisheries sonars, Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar, and Teledyne Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler), XBT and CTD casts in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations, and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for continuous real-time ship-to-shore communications.

Operations will include the use of the ship's deep water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 split-beam fisheries sonars, Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar, and Teledyne Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler), and XBT casts in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations, and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for continuous real-time ship-to-shore communications. Operations are planned in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Emerging technologies components of this cruise will be in partnership with the Cooperative Institute for Ocean Exploration Research and Technology (CIOERT) at Florida Atlantic University and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Newport RI.

Operations will include the use of the ship's deep water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 split-beam fisheries sonars, Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar, and Teledyne Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler), XBT and CTD casts in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations, OER's two-body ROV Deep Discoverer and Seirios, and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for continuous real-time ship-to-shore communications. Operations are planned in and around the US Gulf of Mexico and potentially the international waters of the Gulf.

While this Okeanos Explorer mission will be managed by NESDIS's Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Satellite project, OER will have a mapping lead, Mike White, onboard to perform opportunistic multibeam surveying. OER data management will manage these data in the same manner as other Okeanos missions.

The screens of the mapping acquisition systems (EM 302, EK 60, SBP etc.) will be broadcast 24 hours per day, and will be monitored by both onboard and onshore mapping scientists. Mapping computers will sometimes be controlled by the onshore team. The raw data from all sonars will be transmitted to shore and further processing will be completed on shore. Automated bathymetric gridding will occur on the ship in order for the onboard team to monitor and ensure adequate seabed coverage.

Operations will include the use of the ship's deep water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 split-beam fisheries sonars, Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar, and Teledyne Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler), XBTs in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations, CTD casts, OER's two-body ROV Deep Discoverer and Seirios, and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for continuous real-time ship-to-shore communications. Operations are planned throughout the South Atlantic Bight, offshore Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.

EX-18-07, from July 12 to August 4, will be the first dedicated government non-transect survey in support of the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance/Atlantic Seabed Mapping International Working Group (AORA/ASMIWG). AORA/ASMIWG was established by the Trilateral Galway Statement Implementation Committee to identify steps required to implement a seabed mapping strategy to support the objectives of the Galway Statement. As the first U.S. lead mapping effort in support of Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation, EX-18-07 will include onboard and remote participation from Canadian and European Union students and scientists.

Operations will include the use of the ship's deep water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 split-beam fisheries sonars, Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar, and Teledyne Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler), XBT and CTD casts in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations, and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for real-time ship-to-shore communications. Operations are planned south east of Bermuda in the high seas.

Operations will include the use of the ship's deep-water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 split-beam fisheries sonars, Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar, and Teledyne Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler), XBTs in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations, CTD casts, OER's two-body ROV system (Deep Discoverer and Seirios), and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for continuous ship-to-shore communications. Operations will focus on exploring deep waters (>250 m) in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Caribbean Sea, as well as in territorial waters surrounding surrounding Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Operations will include the use of the ship's deep water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 split-beam fisheries sonars, Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar, and Teledyne Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler), XBT casts in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations, OER's two-body ROV Deep Discoverer and Seirios, and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for continuous real-time ship-to-shore communications and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for continuous real-time ship-to-shore communications. Operations are planned in the US EEZ, Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos Islands and Bahamas.

This shakedown mission, which began in Pascagoula, Mississippi on May 12, 2019 and concluded on May 24, 2019 in Key West, Florida, came after the winter scheduled drydock and dockside shipyard repair period. While underway, 24-hour operations focused on preparing deep-sea mapping and water column sonars and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) systems for the remainder of 2019 expeditions. Three "engineering dives" were conducted during the first part of the expedition. The dives allowed members of the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration to calibrate the ROV's ultra short baseline (USBL) positioning system, test a new suction sampling device, test on-ship data transfer and telepresence systems, and train new team members. As the dives focused on testing new equipment, no physical samples were collected for later analyses. During the third ROV dive on May 16, while conducting an "engineering dive" to test new remotely operated vehicle (ROV) equipment, the team made an unexpected - and exciting - discovery: the wreck of what is likely a mid-19th century wooden sailing vessel. Mapping shakedown operations during the expedition included calibrating the ship's EM302 multibeam sonar (used to map the seafloor and water column) and the EK60 split-beam sonar (used to explore the water column), integrating and calibrating a new Simrad EK80 split-beam sonar (for further water column exploration), and installing and testing a new sonar synchronization unit (K-Sync - to reduce potential interference between different sonars).

During EX1903L1 5342 linear kilometers and 21,724 square kilometers of EM302 data were collected. In addition to bathymetry, these numbers also include multibeam backscatter and multibeam water column data. EX-19-03 Leg 1 operations commenced on May 30th, 2019 in Key West, Florida and concluded on June 14, 2019 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Operations included a combination of acoustic seabed, water column, and sub-seafloor mapping and one conductivity temperature depth (CTD) cast. Operations focused in the South Atlantic Bight, off the coasts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina all within the U.S. EEZ. Priority areas were defined with input from the OER ASPIRE 2019 workshop, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, NOAA Southeast Deep Sea Coral Initiative, NOAA Office of Coast Survey, Seabed 2030 efforts, and the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council. Strategic mapping objectives included subbottom data collection over key features, multibeam data collection over priority areas requiring coverage development, and multibeam holiday lines completing previous coverage on the Blake Plateau. Mapping objectives also focused on priority areas in order to optimize Remotely Operated Vehicle Dives planned for EX-19-03-Leg02 that followed this cruise.

The deepwater areas offshore Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina are some of the least explored areas along the U.S. East Coast. In 2019, NOAA and partners conducted a two-part expedition to map and characterize this area to support priorities put forward by the deep-ocean science and resource management communities. The primary objective of the expedition was to survey deepwater areas offshore of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina in order to provide baseline information to support management and science needs. This two-part expedition used the ship's deepwater mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, Simrad EK60 and EK80 split-beam fisheries sonars, Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar, and Teledyne Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler [ADCP]), NOAA's two-body deepwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV), and a high-bandwidth satellite connection for real-time ship to shore communications. This cruise report details activities associated with the second leg of the Windows to the Deep 2019 expedition (EX1903L2). 19 ROV dives were conducted, ranging in depth from 298 to 3,490 meters (978-11,450 feet) to improve knowledge of unexplored areas within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to inform management needs for sensitive habitats, maritime heritage sites, and potential resources. EX1903L2 also mapped 14,314 square kilometers of seafloor to extend bathymetric mapping coverage in the U.S.EEZ in support of Seabed 2030 and NOAA's goal to map and characterize the U.S. EEZ. Data from this expedition will help to improve our understanding of the deep-ocean habitats of the U.S. continental margin and of the connections between communities throughout the Atlantic Basin.

EX-19-04 mapped 7,001 square kilometers of seafloor on and off the continental shelf offshore of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts during the 14 days-at-sea.

EX-19-05 Leg 1 collected 18,734 square kilometers (5462 square nautical miles) and 4798 linear kilometers of bathymetry and associated water column data; 37 square kilometers of this area were mapped within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone in depths greater than 200 meters. EX-19-05-Leg 1 departed from North Kingstown, Rhode Island on August 6, 2019 and arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on August 20, 2019, for a total of 15 days-at-sea. EX-19-05 Leg 1 operations involved a transit northward, crossing the continental shelf followed by focused ocean mapping operations mostly in deep (> 200 m) Canadian waters off the east coast of Nova Scotia. The cruise conducted 24 hour/day exploratory mapping operations to provide initial characterization of the region, as well as to provide data to support more in-depth exploration with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) planned for the follow-on EX-19-05 Leg 2 expedition.

Using OER's dual-body ROV, the expedition completed 12 successful dives ranging in depth from 306 to 2,668 meters that explored a wide diversity of habitats and geological features, including deep-sea coral and sponge communities, deep-sea fish habitats, midwater habitats, submarine canyons, seamounts, and more. Midwater explorations at depths ranging from 700 to 2,175 meters were conducted during one ROV dive in order to investigate the diversity and abundance of the largely unknown pelagic fauna of the region. Overall, hundreds of different species were observed during ROV dive operations, including several potentially undescribed species and several range extensions. Throughout the expedition, 124 biological samples were collected (35 primary and 89 associated taxa), 26 of which likely represent either range expansions or potential new species. The remainder of the biological samples were collected to support studies on connectivity and biogeographic patterns across the Atlantic Ocean. Six high-density communities of deep-sea corals and sponges were documented during the expedition, including a high-density forest of bamboo corals at depths of 1,100 meters inside Gully Canyon, and a highly diverse and dense assemblage of deep-sea sponges and corals at depths of 2,500-2,650 meters on Retriever Seamount, which is among the deepest known such communities in the region. Additional patches of high-density communities of deep-sea corals and sponges were documented during dives on an unnamed canyon, Kinlan Canyon, Bear Seamount, and Veatch Canyon. Other noteworthy ROV observations included records of three large (> 1 meter) individuals of the endangered Atlantic Halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus.Additionally, ROV dives documented various unique geological features, including inactive fluid expulsion features inside Verrill Canyon, evidence of recent sediment transport within Oceanographer Canyon, and a continuous sequence of carbonate rock (>100 meters thick) with near vertical relief at Veatch Canyon. Five geological samples were collected to support laboratory analyses that will increase our understanding of the geological context of this region.

EX-19-06 collected 20,289 square kilometers (5,915 square nautical miles) and 7,594 linear kilometers of bathymetry and associated water column data. 18,110 square kilometers of this area was mapped within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone in depths deeper than 200m. The ship started the cruise from North Kingstown, RI on October 5, 2019 and ended in Miami, Florida on October 26, 2019. EX-19-06 operations involved a transit southward along the edge of the continental shelf followed by focused ocean mapping operations mostly in deep (>200 m) U.S. federal waters off the southeast U.S. Coast on the Blake Plateau. Some limited surveying was also completed along the U.S./Bahamas maritime boundary region. The cruise conducted 24 hour/day exploratory mapping operations to provide initial characterization of the region, as well as to provide data to support more in-depth exploration with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) planned for the follow-on EX-19-07 expedition.

From October 31 to November 20, 2019 the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) conducted the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and mapping cruise (EX1907) from Miami, Florida, to Key West, Florida. Twelve ROV dives were completed, and over 12,700 square kilometers were mapped during this expedition. ROV dive operations supported the expedition objectives, including characterizing bottom fish and precious coral habitats, deep-sea coral habitats, seamounts, and fracture zones. During each dive, the ROVs descended to the seafloor and then moved from waypoint to waypoint, documenting the geology and biology of the area. Onboard and shore-based scientists identified encountered organisms to the lowest taxon possible based on data available during real-time assessment.

EX-20-00 departed from Pascagoula, Mississippi on March 3 and arrived in Key West, Florida on March 8, 2020. The primary purpose of this cruise was to perform the sea acceptance trials of the newly installed EM 304 topside unit. The multibeam receive array was replaced in 2018, and the transmit array is the original from the 2007 install. Visiting Kongsberg technicians performed and observed required tests to ensure acceptable functionality of the unit. These tests included a geometric calibration (patch test), speed-noise testing, and accuracy testing with both a shallow and deep reference survey.

Between April 14 and May 10, 2021 EX-21-01 performed the sea acceptance testing of the newly installed Kongsberg EM 304 MKII transmit array, conducted mission readiness of the mapping systems through annual testing and calibration, and mapped unexplored areas of the Blake Plateau. In addition to the EM 304 multibeam sonar objectives, EK60/80 split-beam echosounder objectives included acceptance of the newly installed EK80 38 kHz transducer and calibration of each frequency (18, 38, 70, 120, 200 kHz). Other mission readiness objectives included ensuring functionality of all ancillary equipment, including sound speed profiling equipment, updating and refining procedural documents, and defining new procedures for supporting shore-based processing using the Cloud. EX-21-01 collected 22,187 square kilometers of bathymetry and associated water column data, with 18,773 square kilometers being within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and Territorial Sea deeper than 200 m.

From May 14-27, 2021, NOAA Ocean Exploration led the 2021 Technology Demonstration on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer from Cape Canaveral, Florida, to Norfolk, Virginia. The expedition brought together NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA JPL), the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and the Inner Space Center/University of Rhode Island (ISC/URO) to advance new ocean technologies and sampling techniques. The expedition had three overall objectives; field testing and engineering readiness of WHOI/NASA JPL Orpheus autonomous underwater vehicles, piloting environmental DNA (eDNA) collection for NOAA Ocean Exploration and mapping priority deepwater areas offshore the U.S. Southeast, largely focused on the Blake Plateau. During 14 days at sea, 8 AUV deployments were completed between 12 and 866 meters in depth. Over 724 GB of downlooking AUV 4K video were collected. The AUVs surveyed 30 linear kilometers of seafloor and logged over 16 hours of bottom time. The AUVs spent a total of 32 hours 59 minutes in the water, which included autonomous water column exploration. Twelve CTD rosette casts were completed, most simultaneous with AUV operations. Using the Niskin bottles on the CTD rosette, 120 water samples were collected for post-cruise eDNA analysis. Exploration mapping operations included acoustic data collection using the EM 304 MKII multibeam echosounder, Simrad EK60/80 split-beam echosounders, Knudsen sub-bottom profiler and Acoustic Doppler Profilers. 8,703 square kilometers of largely unmapped seafloor were mapped using the EM 304 with 8,519 square kilometers being within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and Territorial Sea deeper than 200 m. All operations and data collected were in U.S. waters.

This Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) shakedown expedition aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer began in Norfolk, Virginia on June 13, 2021 and concluded on June 28, 2021 in Newport, Rhode Island. This was the first time the ROVs Deep Discoverer and Seirios were mobilized and used for ROV dives since the extensive 2021 winter dry dock repair period. While underway, 24-hour operations focused on preparing remotely operated vehicle (ROV) systems for the remainder of 2021 expeditions. Extensive testing, calibration, and troubleshooting was completed for new ROV motors, motor controllers, cameras, lighting, hydraulic systems, and a navigational sonar during 11 ROV dives. The first five dives progressively got to deeper depths ranging from 670 m to 4370 m with the primary objective of new equipment integration and personnel training. The following five dives were conducted on Caryn Seamount, and the mid-Atlantic canyons Toms, Hudson (twice), and Uchupi. The last dive of the expedition was on a recently discovered sonar anomaly that turned out to be a World War II era submarine, the Humaita (ex-USS Muskallunge). Five biological and three geological samples were collected for later analyses from Caryn Seamount and the mid-Atlantic canyons. Mapping operations during the expedition included continued calibrating and troubleshooting of the ship's new EM304 multibeam sonar and transducer array. Additional mapping operations included improving multibeam bathymetry in previously mapped areas, sub-bottom sonar surveys conducted on the Currituck landslide feature off of North Carolina, EK60 water column sonar survey of the diurnal migration above Hudson Canyon, and searching for underwater cultural heritage sites by observing sonar depth and backscatter anomalies.

The 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones: New England and Corner Rise Seamounts expedition (EX-21-04) was a combined mapping and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) expedition to the seamounts of the Northwest Atlantic that took place between June 30 and July 29, 2021. Operations during this 30-day at sea expedition included a combination of ROV dives in support of NOAA Ocean Exploration and its partner priorities as well as exploratory mapping operations targeting areas containing no or poor quality modern mapping data. The initial focus was on the U.S. Northeast Seamount and high seas areas, however, during the expedition weather altered the planned transect to outside Bermudan waters where three dives took place before rejoining the planned dive sites exploring a total of 19 seamounts and one canyon (Hydrographer) for water column exploration. During the expedition, 20 Deep Discoverer ROV dives were conducted from 300 m to 4187 m water depth for a total of 154 hours of bottom time, and surveyed using EM 304 multibeam sonar 54,710 square km over 30 days at sea. All data associated with this expedition have been archived and are publicly available through the NOAA Archives.

From August 15- September 2, 2021, NOAA Ocean Exploration conducted mapping operations on the Blake Plateau within U.S. waters, aiding in closing the gaps within this region. This cruise consisted of a strategic transit from Newport, Rhode Island to the primary working grounds off of the U.S Southeast, aimed at collecting data over previously mapped and potentially new seeps along the edge of the continental shelf. EX-21-05 collected 13,054 square kilometers of bathymetry and associated water column data, 12,989 square kilometers of which were within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and Territorial Sea deeper than 200 m. The cruise concluded in Port Canaveral, FL on September 2, 2021. The exploratory mapping operations conducted during this cruise will provide initial characterization of the region, as well as data to support further exploration with remotely operated vehicles planned for EX-21-07.

From September 5 - September 28, 2021, NOAA Ocean Exploration conducted mapping operations on the Blake Plateau within U.S. waters, aiding in closing the gaps within this region. The second of two cruises focused on mapping this region, EX-21-06 collected 25,800 square kilometers of bathymetry and associated water column data, 25,790 square kilometers of which were within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and Territorial Sea deeper than 200 m. The exploratory mapping operations conducted during this cruise will provide initial characterization of the region, as well as data to support further exploration with remotely operated vehicles planned for EX-21-07.

The Windows to the Deep 2021: Southeast U.S. ROV and Mapping expedition (EX-21-07) was a combined mapping and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) expedition to the Blake Plateau and Florida Straits that took place between October 26 and November 15, 2021. Operations during this 21-days at sea expedition included a combination of ROV dives in support of NOAA Ocean Exploration and its partner priorities. The primary focus of this expedition was the Blake Plateau, including its escarpment, off the coast of the Southeast U.S., but three dives were also conducted in the western and central Florida Straits due to weather conditions. Overall, 14 dives were completed, including two explorations of the water column, several dives to mound and ridgelike structures likely to be bioherms, two deeper dives to explore the steep Blake Escarpment, and one dive to document a lone sinkhole in the southeast region of the Blake Plateau. ROV dives were conducted from 300 m to 3650 meters water depth for a total of 47 hours of bottom time, and 15,800 square km were mapped using EM 304 multibeam sonar. All data associated with this expedition have been archived and are publicly available through the NOAA Archives.

From February 23 - March 3, 2022 (Pascagoula, MS to Key West, FL), NOAA Ocean Exploration conducted a shakedown of the remotely operated vehicle (ROV), video, telepresence, and sampling operations as well as mapping and positioning systems aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. The ROV engineers tested and calibrated ROVs Deep Discoverer and Seirios' ROV motor controllers, auto position software, lighting system, hydraulic system, ME-20 low-light camera, high-definition ancillary ROV cameras, sector-scanning sonar, as well as tested remote-piloting capabilities of ROV Deep Discoverer. Shakedown and readiness operations for the EM 304 multibeam sonar included a GNSS Azimuth Measurement Subsystem (GAMS) calibration, Patch Test, speed-noise test, coverage extinction data collection, and integration and testing of the newly installed SeaPath 380-R3. In total, the expedition team conducted 7 ROV dives ranging from 480 to 3,420 m depth and collected 4,930 square kilometers of acoustic data during transits and calibrations. The expedition explored the West Florida Shelf and the Straits of Florida offshore the U.S. southeastern coast. The expedition confirmed the location of a shipwreck target, thought to be a 19th century whaler. Corals and sponges were observed 4 out of the 7 surveyed dive sites, with 3 of the 7 containing high diversities of benthic species. A total of 12 samples were collected: 3 geological, 3 biological, and 6 commensal (not including blank samples).

From March 10 - 28, 2021 (Key West, FL to San Juan, Puerto Rico), NOAA Ocean Exploration conducted mapping operations south of Puerto Rico in U.S. waters, aiding in closing bathymetric gaps within this region. EX-22-02 collected 18,850 square kilometers of bathymetry and associated water column data, 18,033 square kilometers of which were within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and Territorial Sea deeper than 200 m. During mapping operations, NOAA Ocean Exploration simultaneously collected EM 304 multibeam sonar bathymetry observations and Simrad EK60/EK80 split-beam fisheries sonar observations of biologic material in the water column, as well as Knudsen 3260 sub-bottom profiler observations of sub-seafloor geologic structure and sediment. A single CTD cast during the expedition validated deep deployment capabilities in preparation for planned CTD operations on EX-22-03. The exploratory mapping operations conducted during this cruise will provide initial characterization of the region, as well as data to support further exploration.

From April 4 - 28, 2022, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer sailed to support NOAA Ocean Exploration's Puerto Rico Mapping and Deep-Sea Camera expedition (EX-22-03). The ship departed from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The mission objectives were two-fold: seafloor mapping in U.S waters offshore of Puerto Rico and testing deep-sea camera systems developed by the Multidisciplinary Instrumentation in Support of Oceanography (MISO) Facility at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) for potential integration into future NOAA Ocean Exploration operations. The primary mapping area of the expedition was the Muertos Trough region and surrounding seamounts in U.S. Caribbean waters around Puerto Rico. In addition, a transit over the 8,000 m deep Puerto Rico Trench was used to test the limits of the new Kongsberg EM 304 MKII multibeam sonar that was installed in 2021. Upon completion of mapping in the priority areas, the expedition focused on testing the integrated deep-sea camera and conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) system to support a number of mission objectives through simultaneous imaging and sampling of the water column. The last portion of the expedition consisted of mapping the high seas and offshore waters of the U.S. East Coast while transiting to the final destination of Newport, Rhode Island.

From May 14 - June 7, 2022 (Newport, Rhode Island to St. John's, Newfoundland), NOAA Ocean Exploration conducted mapping operations on the Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone, aiding in closing bathymetric gaps within this region. EX-22-04 collected 46,250 square kilometers of bathymetry and associated water column data. During mapping operations, NOAA Ocean Exploration simultaneously collected EM 304 multibeam sonar bathymetry observations and Simrad EK60/EK80 split-beam fisheries sonar observations of biologic material in the water column, as well as Knudsen 3260 sub-bottom profiler observations of sub-seafloor geologic structure and sediment. Additionally, a calibration of the EK60/EK80 transducers was completed. The exploratory mapping operations conducted during this cruise will provide initial characterization of the region, as well as data to support further exploration.

From July 9-30, 2022 (Norfolk, VA to Horta, Faial, Azores) NOAA Ocean Exploration completed the Voyage to the Ridge 2 expedition (EX-22-05), a combined mapping and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) expedition to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Azores Plateau. Operations during this 22-days at sea expedition included the completion of 10 successful ROV exploration dives in the vicinity the Azores and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge north of the Azores. ROV dives were conducted in water depths ranging from 420 m to 3350 m for a total of almost 53 hours of bottom time. EX-22-05 also collected 49,417 square kilometers of seafloor bathymetry and associated water column data using an EM304 multibeam sonar.

From August 6 - September 2, 2022 (Horta, Faial, Azores to San Juan, Puerto Rico) NOAA Ocean Exploration completed the Voyage to the Ridge 3 expedition (EX-22-06), a combined mapping and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) expedition to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Azores Plateau, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and U.S. waters in the vicinity of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Operations during this 28-day expedition included the completion of 9 successful ROV exploration dives in the vicinity of the Azores, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge south of the Azores, and Puerto Rico. ROV dives were conducted in water depths ranging from 250 m to 6000 m for a total of 41 hours of bottom time. EX-22-06 also collected 56,769 square kilometers of seafloor bathymetry and associated water column data using an EM304 multibeam sonar. All data associated with this expedition have been archived and are publicly available through the NOAA Archives.

From October 16-November 3, 2022 (San Diego, California to Newport, Oregon), NOAA Ocean Exploration conducted mapping operations off the coast of California and Oregon in U.S. waters, aiding in closing bathymetric gaps within this region. Expedition EX-22-08 collected 32,416 square kilometers of bathymetry and associated water column data, 22,313 square kilometers of which were within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and Territorial Sea deeper than 200 m, while 10,104 square kilometers were collected in international waters. During mapping operations, NOAA Ocean Exploration simultaneously collected EM 304 multibeam sonar bathymetry observations and Simrad EK60/EK80 split-beam fisheries sonar observations of biologic material in the water column, as well as Knudsen 3260 sub-bottom profiler observations of sub-seafloor geologic structure and sediment. A detailed sub-bottom survey targeted previously-identified sponge reefs in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The exploratory mapping operations conducted during this cruise will provide initial characterization of the region, as well as data to support further exploration.