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NOAA Ocean Exploration @oceanexplorer

Official @NOAA account for NOAA Ocean Exploration, the only federal organization dedicated to exploring and understanding our ocean.

Joined August 2008
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  • Followers 216,246
4,669 Photos and videos
Best of luck to the US Men’s National Team in their #WorldCup opener tonight! This picture from 2021 captured the only time our team has found a soccer ball on the bottom of the ocean. It was found at the bottom of a sinkhole that was over 1,200 meters deep (3,940 feet).
A black and white soccer ball rests on the sandy ocean floor next to white boulders.

ALT A black and white soccer ball rests on the sandy ocean floor next to white boulders.
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Would you visit the crater of an underwater volcano? Here's a throwback to 2016, when we explored the crater of Daikoku Seamount to investigate the effects of a potential 2014 eruption. Along with venting gases and thick smoke, we spotted tubeworms, crabs, and flatfish.
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Call for input: NOAA Ocean Exploration invites the ocean exploration community to submit recommendations for priority mapping & exploration areas for 2027 field season operations on NOAA Ship #Okeanos Explorer in the central and western Pacific Islands: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/news/…
Map showing proposed operational areas for NOAA's 2027 exploration in the Pacific Ocean, highlighting U.S. and International zones.

ALT Map showing proposed operational areas for NOAA's 2027 exploration in the Pacific Ocean, highlighting U.S. and International zones.
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Did you miss the webinar about @oceanexplorer's #eDNA data release? Never fear, a recording is now available. Watch it & learn about where & how samples were collected, processed, and analyzed to ensure quality control and accuracy. youtu.be/sMVRllF878k?si=PsiP…
Caption: The blob fish Psychrolutes phrictus is among the many fish, invertebrates, marine mammals, microbes, and more found in the recently released environmental DNA data from NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer expeditions. Alt text: Purplish deep-sea fish rests on a silty, volcanic rock seabed.

ALT Caption: The blob fish Psychrolutes phrictus is among the many fish, invertebrates, marine mammals, microbes, and more found in the recently released environmental DNA data from NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer expeditions. Alt text: Purplish deep-sea fish rests on a silty, volcanic rock seabed.

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Happy World Ocean Day! Thanks for celebrating and studying the ocean with us. Add up your points from all five of last week’s trivia questions to find your final score below. (If you haven’t tried the questions yet, take a look at last week’s posts to play!)
A blackboard on a blue background. The blackboard explains point ranking categories as described in the post text. The blackboard also features an image of “Casper” the octopus with a graduation cap edited onto the octopus’s head. Logos for NOAA Ocean Exploration, Nautilus Live, and Schmidt Ocean Institute appear above the words “Deep Ocean Education Project.” Listed score categories include: “ 0-1 points: Pond Skater,” “2-3 points: Reef Snorkeler,” “4-5 points: Scuba Scientist,” “6-7 points: Deep-Sea Diver,” “8-9 points: Submersible Savant,” and “10 points: Hadal Zone Hero”

ALT A blackboard on a blue background. The blackboard explains point ranking categories as described in the post text. The blackboard also features an image of “Casper” the octopus with a graduation cap edited onto the octopus’s head. Logos for NOAA Ocean Exploration, Nautilus Live, and Schmidt Ocean Institute appear above the words “Deep Ocean Education Project.” Listed score categories include: “ 0-1 points: Pond Skater,” “2-3 points: Reef Snorkeler,” “4-5 points: Scuba Scientist,” “6-7 points: Deep-Sea Diver,” “8-9 points: Submersible Savant,” and “10 points: Hadal Zone Hero”

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While this test is over, there’s always more to learn. Teachers, students, and anyone else curious about the deep can find resources from NOAA Ocean Exploration, @SchmidtOcean, and @EVNautilus on the Deep Ocean Education Project website: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/disco…

Deep Ocean Education Project - NOAA Ocean Exploration

oceanexplorer.noaa.gov
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The 2026 ROV shakedown on #Okeanos has come to an end, & so too have the livestreams, for now. Next, we'll be mapping the seafloor, water column, & sub-seafloor between Hawai‘i & the Cook Islands. Want to know what else we have planned for the year? See: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/exped…
Caption: Some of the deep-sea animals seen while prepping the remotely operated vehicles for the 2026 field season on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer during the 2026 ROV Shakedown. Alt text: A bumpy white sea star clings to branching deep-sea coral in a dark, rocky underwater environment.

ALT Caption: Some of the deep-sea animals seen while prepping the remotely operated vehicles for the 2026 field season on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer during the 2026 ROV Shakedown. Alt text: A bumpy white sea star clings to branching deep-sea coral in a dark, rocky underwater environment.
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One final trivia question to help you study for World Ocean Day! Which of these is NOT the name of a ship that has been used for deep ocean exploration?
A trivia question as described in the post text on a blue background. The image also features a white ship with NOAA symbols in port. The answer options provided are "A: Okeanos Explorer," "B: Falkor," "C: Nautilus," and "D: Tubeworm’s Revenge."

ALT A trivia question as described in the post text on a blue background. The image also features a white ship with NOAA symbols in port. The answer options provided are "A: Okeanos Explorer," "B: Falkor," "C: Nautilus," and "D: Tubeworm’s Revenge."

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You can also follow the progress of all three of these active ocean exploration ships (and join active deep-sea live streams) on the “vessels” page of the Deep Ocean Education Project website: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/disco…

Deep Ocean Education Project - NOAA Ocean Exploration

oceanexplorer.noaa.gov
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The answer is D, “Tubeworm’s Revenge!” NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, @SchmidtOcean Research Vessel Falkor, and @EVNautilus Exploration Vessel Nautilus are all real ship names. R/V Falkor was succeeded by R/V Falkor (too) in 2022. Answer D is worth 2 points.
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We’ll share the answer in the replies tomorrow. Add up your points on World Ocean Day (June 8 ) to check your final score!
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Feeling ready for World Ocean Day next Monday? Test your progress by answering this question: Which of these pictures features at least one animal called a “crinoid?” These animals are also known as feather stars and sea lilies.
A trivia question as described in the post text. Image 1 shows several stalked animals with feathery arms attached to the seafloor. Image 2 shows a many-armed creature attached to a stick-like feature extending from the seafloor. Image 3 features a soft-looking, orange animal with tentacles attached to the seafloor. Image 4 features a fish resting on the seafloor. The answer options are "A: Just image 1," "B: Images 1 and 2," "C: Images 2 and 3," and "D: Just image 4."

ALT A trivia question as described in the post text. Image 1 shows several stalked animals with feathery arms attached to the seafloor. Image 2 shows a many-armed creature attached to a stick-like feature extending from the seafloor. Image 3 features a soft-looking, orange animal with tentacles attached to the seafloor. Image 4 features a fish resting on the seafloor. The answer options are "A: Just image 1," "B: Images 1 and 2," "C: Images 2 and 3," and "D: Just image 4."

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We’ll announce the answer to this question in the replies tomorrow. Add up your points on World Ocean Day (June 8 ) to check your score!
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The best answer is A, “just image 1!" The animal in image 2 is a brisingid sea star clinging to a piece of coral. Image 3 is a sea anemone, while image 4 is a sea toad. Answer A is worth 2 points. Answer B is worth 1 point.
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Today is the 2026 ROV Shakedown's last dive. We’re heading 3 miles down off Oʻahu. Anticipated on-bottom time is ~12:30 HT/6:30 EDT. We can’t just start off the season at these depths. Read about what it takes to get us there: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/exped… Then, join us for the dive!
ROV Deep Discoverer sits on a ship's open deck at sea, showcasing a manipulator arm, sampling equipment, and camera systems.

ALT ROV Deep Discoverer sits on a ship's open deck at sea, showcasing a manipulator arm, sampling equipment, and camera systems.

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Need the link to the livestreams? Watch them here: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/lives…
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Ready for another trivia question? At hydrothermal vents, hot fluids flow dramatically out of cracks or rocky towers on the seafloor. But just how hot can these fluids be? Make your choice in the replies!
A trivia question as described in the post text. The answer options are: A: Up to 38°C (100°F), B: Up to 100°C (212°F), C: Over 400°C (750°F), and D: Over 5,500°C (10,000°F) The media includes an image of a “black smoker” hydrothermal vent chimney.

ALT A trivia question as described in the post text. The answer options are: A: Up to 38°C (100°F), B: Up to 100°C (212°F), C: Over 400°C (750°F), and D: Over 5,500°C (10,000°F) The media includes an image of a “black smoker” hydrothermal vent chimney.

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The answer is C, “Over 400°C (750°F).” Vent fluids can get very hot, but the pressure of the deep sea keeps them from boiling into gas. Temperatures drop quickly as you move further away, which allows a range of animals to live nearby. Answer C is worth 2 points.
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Another engineering dive today! Join us as we #explore almost a mile below the #ocean surface off the northwest coast of Hawai‘i. Approximate on bottom time is 10:30 am HST/4:30 pm EDT. oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/lives…
Caption: An Iridogorgia sp. coral seen on Dutton Seamount during the 2026 ROV Shakedown expedition on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. Alt text: A light-colored, deep-sea coral with delicate branches radiating in a wide, circular spiral pattern against a dark blue background.

ALT Caption: An Iridogorgia sp. coral seen on Dutton Seamount during the 2026 ROV Shakedown expedition on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. Alt text: A light-colored, deep-sea coral with delicate branches radiating in a wide, circular spiral pattern against a dark blue background.

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