The wonders of the deep sea - something that you just won't notice

Today's story will be on behalf of a scuba diver - a nature lover. She has extensive diving experience but has recently been offered something new. Anne Hoffner could not resist the secrets of the unknown depths, and the wonders of the sea did not leave her indifferent.

I am a sailing scuba diver!

I am a sailing scuba diver. One wall of my living room is painted in a deep ocean turquoise color and is decorated with a photograph of me diving. By the way, I am there with a pink weight belt and pastel-colored regulator hoses - on a long cruise on the Oddly Enough. 

On Wake Island, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is exploring the depths to better understand what lies beneath the surface.

But I have never swum or dived on Wake Island. I am generally silent about diving to 2100 meters. But more recently, everything has changed. 

I joined the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship Okeanos Explorer for the expedition. The purpose of the expedition, as it turned out, was a deep-sea survey of the ocean floor around Wake. 

The survey was carried out from a remotely controlled vehicle (ROV). I joined them as a "citizen scientist" watching live on my computer screen.

CAPSTONE, wonders of the depths and the depths of the sea

The Campaign to Meet Science, Technology and Oceanic Monuments for Pacific Monuments, or CAPSTONE for short, is a three-year mission to explore deep-sea marine protected areas in the central and western Pacific Ocean.

These include some of the last pristine marine ecosystems on the planet. There are, for example, numerous protected species. 

On almost every dive, previously unidentified life forms and underwater formations are discovered. Among them are mud volcanoes and hydrothermal springs. These are real miracles!

For example, the waters of Wake Island are also rich in archaeological excavations of ships and aircraft lost during World War II. Most of the deep water areas, although poorly understood, are of great interest to governments because of their potential resources. 

However, this also has a dark side. Okeanos Explorer also explores areas ripe for resource extraction. In fact, in order to see what will be destroyed. But CAPSTONE is also enlisting the support of the authorities to preserve what it is.

Expedition cruises

Expeditionary cruise legs could take three weeks with two scientists aboard Oceanos - a geologist and a biologist - plus crews to navigate the ship. Included, for example, is a great camcorder that captures close-ups in high definition.

Immersion and mapping operations are broadcast live.

In the Okeanos digital control room, scientists observe and record the dive, and the dive crew operate their vehicles, including a mechanical arm that collects samples.

In addition to live streaming of what they see and hear, there is a large online chat where scientists and other voice calls help identify sea creatures and rock formations. In all seriousness, this is also a show.

Results of the underwater "tour"

The journey to Wake Island ended after diving and mapping the seamounts. The route was from Guam to Wake and Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands. 

In September, the Okeanos Explorer docked in Hawaii. By the way, samples of living creatures and stones collected during the year were also unloaded there. Like Noah's ark traveling on the sea. 

Future flights will include the Howland and Baker Units of the Pacific Outlying Islands Marine National Monument and the Phoenix Islands Protected Area. 

Perhaps you have ever wondered what might be hidden in the depths and what miracles are still unknown? Then join the Okeanos Explorer for a glimpse of the magnificent deep underwater world!

27.08.2021