Exploration of the Gulf of Mexico 2014

Exploration of the Gulf of Mexico 2014

Image and Video Gallery

This page contains photos and videos associated with the Exploration of the Gulf of Mexico 2014 expedition. Click on any image or video to view a larger version and for additional information.

Highlights video from Dive 15

April 28: Video Log

Highlights video from Dive 15, Many Mound Shallow - South, West Florida Escarpment.

Highlights video from Dive 14

April 27: Video Log

Highlights video from Dive 14, Many Mounds Deep, West Florida Escarpment.

Highlights video from Dive 13

April 26: Video Log

Highlights video from Dive 13 in Large Mound Deep, West Florida Escarpment.

Highlights video from Dive 09

April 24: Video Log

Highlights video from Dive 12, exploring the "tar lilies."

Highlights video from Dive 11

April 23: Video Log

Highlights video from Dive 11, Northwest Gulf Deep Near Border.

Highlights video from Dive 09

April 21: Video Log

Highlights video from Dive 09 in Bryant Canyon Shallow.

Highlights video from Dive 08

April 20: Video Log

Highlights video from Dive 08 on Keathley Canyon.

Highlights video from Dive 05

April 19: Video Log

Highlights video from Dive 07 on Monterrey shipwreck site B.

Highlights video from Dive 04

April 18: Video Log

Highlights video from Dive 06 in Keathley Canyon.

Highlights video from Dive 05

April 17: Video Log

Highlights video from Dive 05 on Monterrey shipwreck sites A and C.

Highlights video from Dive 04

April 16: Video Log

Highlights video from Dive 04 in Keathley Canyon.

Highlights video from Dive 02 at Site GB907.

April 14: Video Log

Highlights video from Dive 03 in the Northwest Gulf of Mexico.

Highlights video from Dive 02 at Site GB907.

April 13: Video Log

Highlights video from Dive 02 at Site GB907.

Highlights video from Dive 01 at Site GB648.

April 12: Video Log

Highlights video from Dive 01 at Site GB648.

Chain Dogfish Shark

Chain Dogfish Shark

Chain dogfish shark seen during Dive 16 of the expedition in the "Many Mounds South" area.

Ctenophore

Ctenophore seen at a depth of 570 meters.

Sea Urchin

A rare instance of deep-sea predation captured on camera—a sea urchin munches on an octocoral.

Dumbo Octopus

This dumbo octopus displayed a body posture never before observed.

Red Squid

A red squid passes quickly in front of the Deep Discoverer remotely operated vehicle at the end of Dive 11.

Fish Encounter

A large fish investigates the remotely operated vehicle.

Red Jelly

A red jelly seen while conducting a midwater transect in the Gulf of Mexico.

Jelly

An unidentified jellyfish sighted at 1,200 meters.

Sea Cucumber

Sea cucumber seen swimming while exploring Keathley Canyon.

Snailfish

Snailfish encountered while exploring Keathley Canyon at a depth of ~ 2,000 meters.

Bubble Seepage

A potential hydrate tube with both oil and gas bubble seepage.

Tar Lily

During a dive on sonar anomalies suspected to be a shipwreck, ROV D2 instead discovered the remnants of asphalt volcanoes.

ROV Preparation

ROV Preparation

The remotely operated vehicle team works on the vehicles following completion of a dive, and readies them for the next day.

Crinoid

A crinoid - potentially a new species in the Family Thalassometridae - clings to a black coral on the West Florida Escarpment.

Squat Lobster

A squat lobster, Gastroptychus cf. spinifer, resides on a black coral.

D2 Recovery

ROV Deep Discoverer is recovered from a dive during the 2014 Gulf of Mexico Expedition.

Control Room

Okeanos Explorer’s control room as seen during an ROV dive.

Dumbo Octopus

This dumbo octopus displayed a body posture that has never before been observed in cirrate octopods.

Monterrey Anchor

Monterrey Anchor

Here, D2 investigates Monterrey Shipwreck C’s anchor and the associated fauna and artifacts in the area.

Sea Cucumber

This sea cucumber uses its specialized appendages to bring nutrient-filled sediment to its mouth.

Wreck Site B

NOAA’s Seirios camera platform images the ROV Deep Discoverer shining its lights on the Monterrey wreck site B.

Monterrey Wreck B

Monterrey Wreck B

Monterrey Wreck B is different than Monterrey Wrecks A and C.

Jellyfish

An unidentified jellyfish with bent tentacles was sighted during ROV surveys conducted in the water column during the cruise.

Squat Lobster

A squat lobster resides on an octorcoral. In the background you can see a colony of Lophelia.

Paleodictyon Holes

Paleodictyon Holes

One of the highlights of our dives in the Northwest Gulf was ROV Deep Discover finding a set of Paleodictyon holes.

Amphitheater

The first dive of the 2014 Gulf of Mexico Expedition had a fantastic “amphitheater of chemosynthetic life.”

Urchin

A rare instance of deep-sea predation captured on camera, a sea urchin munches on a Plumarella octocoral.

Bubblegum

The deepwater environment of the Florida Escarpment proved good habitat for diverse deepwater coral communities.

Brine Pool

On Dive 02 of the 2014 Gulf of Mexico Expedition, ROV Deep Discoverer found an interesting brine pool.

Shipwreck

On a shipwreck, even the smallest detail helps archaeologists assemble the story of a ship’s history.

Exploration Command Center

Exploration Command Center

Archaeologists participate from the Exploration Command Center at Stennis Space Center.

Glass Sponge

Diversity in the deep sea can be amazing.

Soft Coral

Soft coral in a new, recently described Family called Aquaumbridae.

Dandelion

A dandelion, or rare benthic siphonophore, resides under a ledge along the West Florida Escarpment.

Dumbo Octopus

A dumbo octopus uses its ear-like fins to propel itself off of the seafloor.

Bathymetry Data

Bathymetry Data

Multibeam bathymetry data collected so far during the third leg of the 2014 Gulf of Mexico Expedition.

Tar Lily

Here you can see a close up view of one of the “tar lily” “pedals.”

Bamboo Coral

Colony of bamboo coral at a depth of 2,834 meters.

Jellyfish

An unidentified jellyfish with bent tentacles was sighted during the pelagic transects.

Bryant Canyon

ROV Deep Discoverer explores the interesting geomorphology of Bryant Canyon.

Sea Cucumber

Over the last few dives, sea cucumbers have been one of the most abundant species we have seen.

Monterrey Shipwreck B

Monterrey Shipwreck B

Monterrey Shipwreck B is different than Monterrey A and C.

Keathley Canyon

Keathley Canyon

Dipping layered consolidated sedimentary block partially buried in soft sediment.

Monterrey Shipwreck C’s Anchor

Monterrey Shipwreck C’s Anchor

D2 investigates Monterrey Shipwreck C’s anchor and the associated fauna and artifacts in the area.

Ctenophore

A rare, unidentified yellow ctenophore drifted into remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer’s field of view.

Mapping Operations

Mapping Operations

Mapping operations were conducted following cancellation of the ROV dive due to heavy seas.

Octocoral

A squat lobster resides on a deep-sea octocoral.

Mussels

ROV Deep Discoverer imaged a group of chemosynthetic mussels and a few sea urchins next to an oil seep.

Chemosynthesis

Towards the end of the first dive, we found a carbonate outcrop with chemosynthtic mussels.

Fledermous

During remotely operated vehicle expeditions, the science team uses Fledermous to view sonar data.

Sunset

The sun is seen setting off the starboard aft of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer.

Leg 3 Summary Map

Leg 3 Summary Map

Summary map showing the approximate location of Leg 3 activities.

Telepresence

Via telepresence, the majority of the science team participated in the expedition from shore.

Participation

More than 70 scientists and students from 14 states participated in expedition ROV dives from shore.

Crew

Crew that was on board NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer during the third leg of the Gulf of Mexico 2014 expedition.

Deep-sea Squid

Deep-sea squid of the family Cranchiidae has a chamber in its body filled with ammonia to help with buoyancy.

Squid Eggs

How good are your eyes—can you see tiny bobtail squid eyes inside these eggs?

Dumbo Octopus

This dumbo octopus displayed a body posture that has never before been observed in cirrate octopods.

Lophelia

Live Lophelia pertusa colony.

Rock Outcropping

Rock Outcropping

Deep Discoverer passing over a rock outcropping and recently fractured carbonate ledge with corals living.

Carbonate Ledge

Carbonate Ledge

Recently fractured carbonate ledge with corals living.

Lophelia Reef

Lophelia reef on a rock outcropping (bioherm).

Pancake Urchin

Pancake urchin eating a small octocoral colony.

Diversity

Corals, sponges, and crinoids – oh my!

Crinoid

A crinoid - potentially a new species in the Family Thalassometridae - clings to a black coral.

Bubblegum

An exciting part of this dive for our coral fans was the amount of coral recruits.

Harbor Branch ECC

Harbor Branch ECC

Dennis Hanisak runs through what operations will be like in the Harbor Branch ECC.

Stephanie Farrington

Stephanie Farrington

Onboard science team co-lead for Leg 3 of the 2014 Gulf of Mexico Expedition, Stephanie Farrington.

John Reed

John Reed leads a group of students through a pre-dive briefing.

Deployment

Okeanos Explorer crew members prepare to deploy the Argo float in the Gulf of Mexico.

Argo Float

The sophisticated Argo float will collect data in the Gulf for years to come.

Argo Schematic

This is a schematic figure of what the float actually does after it is deployed.

Drifting

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer crew members watch as the Argo float drifts off into the Gulf of Mexico.

Tar Lily

ROV Deep Discoverer approaches the first "tar lily."

Tubeworms

Chemosynthetic tube worms led scientists to believe that there was more to this site than what we could see.

Sonar Anomaly

D2 investigated a second sonar anomaly which turned out to be another "tar lily."

Tar Lily Octocoral

Tar Lily Octocoral

Can you spot the shrimp hiding in this octocoral that was growing on the "tar lily"?

Fascinating Cargo

Fascinating Cargo

Two depth sounding leads, a brass frame and gimbal band, and glass and ceramic bottles and jugs.

Monterrey B Bow

Monterrey B Bow

The bow section of Monterrey B.

Monterrey B Stern

Monterrey B Stern

The stern section of Monterrey B.

Watch

Octant and chronometer side by side on the seafloor.

Octant

Octant shading glass protruding from seafloor.

Watchface

Face of the chronometer.

Ship Hardware with Sea Life

Ship Hardware with Sea Life

A king crab, a white anemone, and stoloniferous corals perch on ship hardware.

Telepresence

Thanks to telepresence technology, anyone with Internet could follow the exploration.

Copper and Brass

Copper and Brass

Copper and brass has stayed free of marine growth for nearly 200 years!

Shipworms

The tubes of shipworms litter areas once covered with wood.

Shrimp and Lobster

Shrimp and Lobster

A coral squat lobster shares its home in a black coral with the fat-claw shrimp.

Flat-claw Lobster

Flat-claw Lobster

The flat-claw coral squat lobster always is found among the golden sea fan.

Brittle Stars

In a sea fan colony, a coral squat lobster shares its home with brittle stars.

Golden Crab

A golden crab, Chaceon fenneri, dares the ROV to come any closer.

Fine Tuning

Todd Gregory works to fine tune the HD camera system at sunset onboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer.

Eight Cameras

D2 has eight cameras and two manipulator arms, one of which is home to a brand new temperature probe.

9,000 Pounds

D2 is an elegant and powerful 9,000 pounds, designed to bring optimal imagery topside.

D2's Tether

D2's yellow tether that powers, controls, and links the ROV to Seirios.

The newly designed custom logo compliments the aesthetics of the ROV.

Miles Of Wire

Quite literally miles of wire run through D2’s oil-encased “veins.” Here, Josh Carlson preps D2.

Seirios Point of View

Seirios Point of View

ROV Deep Discoverer as seen from the second part of the two-bodied system, camera sled Seirios.

Temperature Probe

Temperature Probe

ROV Deep Discoverer uses its new temperature probe to learn about the deep-sea environment.

Chemosynthetic Life

Chemosynthetic Life

This site had a fantastic “amphitheater of chemosynthetic life.”

Methane Bubbles

Methane Bubbles

Methane bubbles rise slowly enough from the sea floor that they developed a “crust” of hydrates.

Oil and Gas Bubbles

Oil and Gas Bubbles

A potential hydrate tube with both oil and gas bubble seepage.

Brine Pool

On Dive 02 of the expedition, ROV Deep Discoverer found an interesting brine pool.

Mission Introduction

Mission Introduction

The Gulf of Mexico Expedition is composed of three ‘legs’ focused on acquiring data in priority areas.

Launch

The expedition marks the second season using NOAA’s ROV and camera sled on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer.

Mission Plan

Before and after map showing operating area for Leg 1 mapping operations.

Leg 3 ROV Ops

Map showing the area of the Northwest Gulf of Mexico for Leg 3 ROV operations.

West Florida Escarpment ROV operations

West Florida Escarpment ROV operations

Map showing the Central West Florida Escarpment where ROV operations will be conducted during Leg 3.

Telepresence

Via telepresence, live seafloor images and science data will flow over satellite and high-speed Internet.

Seafloor Habitats

Seafloor Habitats

A variety of seafloor habitats will be explored during the expedition.

Bathymetry Data

Bathymetry Data

Expedition overview map showing bathymetry data.

Macondo Well

In 2010, cameras captured images of a site downstream from the Deepwater Horizon/Macondo well.

Northwest Gulf of Mexico Interest

Northwest Gulf of Mexico Interest

Interest in deepwater areas in the Northwest Gulf of Mexico was expressed by a range of organizations.

West Florida Escarpment Interest

West Florida Escarpment Interest

Interest in the West Florida Escarpment was expressed by a range of organizations.

Capstan

Lying next to an anchor are the remains of the capstan from the Monterrey C site in more than 4,300 feet of water.

Cannon

The large cannon on the Monterrey A Shipwreck appears to have been mounted on a pivot carriage.

Ginger

The ROV Hercules gently recovers a medicine bottle filled with ginger from an early 19th century shipwreck.

Tube Worms

In 2012, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer found tube worms at one of the Monterrey Shipwrecks.

Colony

Corals and anemones colonize a rocky outcrop in the deep Gulf of Mexico.

Currents in the Gulf of Mexico

Currents in the Gulf of Mexico

Watch an animation of the real-time currents in the Gulf of Mexico.

Flower Garden Banks

Flower Garden Banks

Okeanos Explorer will explore an area adjacent to the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.

Operating Areas

Operating Areas

The two operating areas for Okeanos Explorer in April 2014.

North-to-South Cross Section

North-to-South Cross Section

An idealized north-to-south cross section of the Gulf of Mexico.

West-to-East Cross-Section

West-to-East Cross-Section

Generalized west-to-east cross-section extending across the Florida and Bahamas platforms.

Western Florida’s Southern Province

Western Florida’s Southern Province

Schematic cross section of rift-related features forming foundation of western Florida’s southern province.

Leg 2 Mapping Ops

Leg 2 Mapping Ops

Map showing area where the Okeanos will conduct mapping operations during the Gulf of Mexico Leg 2 Expedition.

Marah Dahn

Marah Dahn gets hands-on seafloor mapping experience in the control room

Gas Seeps

Gas seeps seen on the single-beam profile.

XBT Cast

Marah launches the XBT cast from the deck of the Okeanos Explorer.

Leg 1 Mapping Ops

Leg 1 Mapping Ops

Map showing operations area during the first leg of the Gulf of Mexico exploration expedition.

Gaseous Seeps

Image of gaseous seeps seen during the 2012 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Canyons Expedition.

Priority Areas

Maps showing Mapping Priority Area 1 (top) and Mapping Priority Area 2 (bottom) for Leg 1 of the expedition.