Okeanos Explorer (EX2308): EXPRESS:Exploration of Central California Coast (USM AUV + Mapping)

Vessel: NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer; Expedition Dates: October 21 - November 10, 2023

Project Principals: Sam Cuellar, NOAA/OAR/OER (Expedition Coordinator)

From October 21 - November 10, 2023 (San Francisco, California to San Francisco, California) NOAA Ocean Exploration conducted EXPRESS: Exploration of Central California Coast (EX2308), an AUV and mapping expedition, along the central Californian coast. Operations during this 21-day expedition included the completion of 5 successful autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) dives with the University of Southern Mississippi's (an OECI affiliate) AUVs Eagle Ray and Mola Mola, conducted in water depths ranging from ~400 m to 1954 m for approximately 66 hours and 55 minutes of dive time. EX2308 also collected 22,259 sq. km of seafloor bathymetry and associated water column data using the EM304 multibeam sonar, all within the US EEZ. All data associated with this expedition will be archived within 120 days of the end of the expedition and will be publically available through NOAA Archives.