A surprising fact: abyssal plains cover over 50% of Earth’s surface. But when it comes to this habitat, what we don’t know far outweighs what we do. In the Cook Islands, ROV dives have surveyed over dense areas of round abyssal nodules. These slow-growing rock formations carry the unique chemistry of the local ocean as dissolved minerals in seawater come out of solution. In one of Earth's slowest geological processes, nodules form from layers of rock deposition, like layers of a gumball, growing at only millimeters per million years. As the team visits these very deep ocean areas, join in the scientific exploration learning about the environmental conditions plus biological diversity and density within this habitat type in the Cook Islands.
 

Sail onboard E/V Nautilus in 2026 with a PAID internship! We're accepting applications from community college students, undergrads, graduate students, and recent grads in four categories: Ocean Science, Remotely Operated Vehicle Engineering, Video Systems Engineering, and Seafloor Mapping/Hydrography! 

Learn more and apply by January 4, 2026: https://nautiluslive.org/join/internship-program