Emma’s Story: A Navigation Intern’s Experience Aboard E/V Nautilus
OET is proud to welcome Emma Snead to the Corps of Exploration as part of our Navigation Internship in partnership with the US Coast Guard Academy and supported by the Office of Naval Research. This internship program supports cadets in building professional experience and exploring STEM-related maritime careers. Snead spent 24 days aboard E/V Nautilus as a Navigator for ROV operations and seafloor mapping watchstander characterizing deep-sea features near Johnston Atoll, part of one of America's largest marine conservation areas, the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Below is Emma’s experience in her own words:
"Hello everyone! My name is Emma Snead. I am from Annapolis, Maryland, a college sailor, and a cadet studying Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the United States Coast Guard Academy. The past month I have experienced the amazing opportunity to work as a navigation intern aboard Nautilus!
Training for a career in the ocean at the USCGA involves learning a lot about various ways to combine ocean science with national service. The Coast Guard has eleven core missions, including search and rescue to drug interdiction, marine environmental protection, and defense readiness. Across these eleven missions, the Coast Guard stations professionals and creates opportunities for many areas of interest to be excited about. I have been passionate about the ocean all of my life. Growing up in Annapolis, I was always near the water, and earlier in life, my family and I lived for a year and a half on a boat. This helped me be particularly interested in the search and rescue and marine environmental protection missions.
Each summer at the US Coast guard Academy, cadets (our word for students) participate in field-based training opportunities. This summer, many of my classmates are spending more time onboard Coast Guard Cutters (the large ships used to carry out the Coast Guardʻs diverse missions). Knowing that this was a rare opportunity to experience the civilian maritime world of work before I graduate and enter the Coast Guard fleet, it was important to me to try to see what life onboard a non-military vessel was like. I am so glad I did! When I applied for the internship through the Coast Guard Academy's Marine and Environmental Science Department where the Nautilus Navigation Internship was my first choice. Advertised as an at-sea adventure where the mission was to map the uncharted ocean floor and launch ROVs in an undetermined location, I was sold from the get-go.
Living, learning, and working onboard E/V Nautilus is fantastic because it marries taking care of people, adventure, and fascinating scientific work all at once. So many of the passions that drew me to the Coast Guard (adventure, people, purpose) were fulfilled on the expedition I participated in. As an intern, with the support of my mentor, I was thrown right into standing watches as we acquired seafloor mapping data and navigation watches during ROV dives. Wow, I learned a whole bunch.
The mapping coordinator, Renny, and I spent my first watch showing me the basics of operating the multiple mapping software. At first, I was very nervous about being on watch alone. Still, after a few watches of seeing small things go wrong and learning how to fix them, I got much more comfortable changing settings on the software or calling the bridge to slow down for better data, etc. It was so fun to coordinate between the pilots and the scientists to move the ship for samples along the waypoints or to create our track lines on the go when we saw terrific geological features like cliffs. I loved all of the varied experiences and roles of the job.
The thrill of seeing underwater animals is something that I do not think will ever wear off. But probably the most special part about being underway on both Nautilus and in the Coast Guard is the comradery you build with your shipmates. So many times in the data lab, in the control van, or watching live dives from the lounge, I was crying and laughing from joking with others. I am inspired that people excited about exploration share the same values no matter what career path led them to this work. Times spent up on the top deck looking out at the ocean, passing snacks around in the van, or staring up at the stars with some friends are moments I will not forget.
Whether it be this unique internship, joining the Coast Guard, or sailing in a strong breeze, I love throwing myself into a challenge. To anyone who wants to take on a challenge, I would give advice to never count yourself out. Whether or not someone like you has done something before or if you are nervous about taking a risk, don't wait until you are ready. Lean in and do it, scared! Thank you so much to Ocean Exploration Trust and the Coast Guard Academy for allowing me to come aboard Nautilus. It was an incredible experience I will never forget!"
Deep Sea Biodiversity & Ancient Volcanoes near Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll, one of the most isolated atolls in the world, is located in the central Pacific Ocean, between the Hawaiian Islands, the Line Islands, and the nation of Kiribati. Around this atoll, the Pacific Remote Island Marine National Monument (PRIMNM) was expanded in 2014 to protect the full 200 nautical mile perimeter of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) encompassing many unexplored seafloor features.
