Our final OECI-sponsored expedition of 2026 brings E/V Nautilus back to the Hawaiian Islands. While nearshore waters surrounding the islands have been relatively well surveyed, many offshore areas remain completely unexplored, hindering efforts to effectively manage the resources of this unique region. This 20-day expedition will start and end in Honolulu, and utilize the ROV, mapping, and telepresence systems of E/V Nautilus to survey previously unsurveyed deep seafloor around the Hawaiian Islands, with a focus on unexplored ridges and seamounts in the eastern portion of the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary, and abyssal plain habitats southwest of the Main Hawaiian Islands. On this expedition, the team will also deploy a recently developed benthic lander and low-light camera system from the University of Hawaiʻi to support deep-sea coral monitoring.
Expedition Partners
