Current expedition

Deep-Sea Habitats of the Marshall Islands

July 27 – August 17, 2025
Description and highlights
Current Status
Vehicles Descending
Brittany Munson headshot
Update
ROVs are descending to 3300m for our last dive of expedition NA174. We will be exploring a seamount south of Bikar in the National Marine Sanctuary of Bikar and Bokak.
1 hour ago
Ship Location
National Marine Sanctuary of Bikar & Bokak, Marshall Islands
Our team is in the control room and ready for your questions!

Live Data

ROV Hercules icon
ROV Hercules Depth
ROV Atalanta icon
ROV (Towsled) Atalanta Depth
Water Temperature
Ship Heading
Wind Speed
Wind Angle
More data

Ship location

Current Watch

Watch Leader

Data Logger

Hercules Pilot

Atalanta Pilot

Navigator

Video Engineer

Communications

Scientist

Recent Posts

Bodak and Bikar
Ocean Exploration Trust

In 2006, the Marshall Islands joined the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under the #MicronesiaChallenge, a commitment with numerous environmental stewardship goals, including to sustainably manage 50% of marine resources by 2030. In 2008, the Marshall Islands Government developed the Reimaanlok Framework for establishing and managing conservation areas.

In 2025, the Republic of the Marshall Islands established the nation’s first national marine sanctuary, protecting 48,000 square kilometers of land and water surrounding Bikar and Bokak Atolls, including extensive deep-water areas that have not yet been explored.

Glowing rock deep sea
Ocean Exploration Trust

Pictured is a fragmented lava suspended in lithified sediment. When exposed to UV light, the sediment phosphoresces, glowing green for several seconds. This brief "glow in the dark" effect tells us that the sediment is made out of calcite and/or a phosphate mineral.
 

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