NOAAS Okeanos Explorer Gulf of Mexico 2018 Expedition

Gulf of Mexico 2018 was a 23-day telepresence-enabled expedition to collect critical information and acquire data on priority exploration areas identified by the ocean management and scientific communities.

[1] 15 ROV dives were conducted ranging in depth from 305 to 3,010 meters to explore the diversity and distribution of deep-sea habitats and associated marine communities in the Gulf of Mexico basin.

Midwater exploration at depths ranging from 900 to 300 meters were also conducted during two dives to investigate the diversity and abundance of the largely unknown pelagic fauna.

[1] During the first dive the shipwreck of the tug boat New Hope was explored for the first time[5] and a 3D model of the site was created.

The expedition also conducted 16 live telepresence interactions with various groups engaging more than 400 individuals including the Exploratorium, National Aquarium, Boston College, Hawaii Pacific University, London Natural History Museum, and many more.

Overview map showing seafloor bathymetry and ROV dives completed during the Gulf of Mexico 2018 expedition.
When this currently unidentified squid (possibly Discoteuthis sp.) was observed, it appeared to be curled in upon itself with its arms folded in what may be a defensive posture. What appears to be the beak is visible towards the lower part of the center of the animal and is slightly lighter in color than the body. [ 4 ]
ROV Deep Discoverer observed a small (1.2 meter diameter) brine pool at 1,067 meters depth.
Two Muusoctopus sp. appear to wrestle for space inside the wreck seen on Dive 02 of the expedition.