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A rainbow illuminates the Hawaiian landscape during the SSE Expeditions. (Photo: Claire Cappelle) |
SSE, joins NOAA and the National Geographic Society with support from the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, in a 5-year project to explore the nation's 12 marine sanctuaries using sophisticated new submersible technology. Hawaii was the Expeditions' tenth since its launch in April 1998.
On Tuesday, January 25, over 80 students from the Hawaiian Islands and American Samoa took part in a Student Summit. The next day, 120 local students traveled to Maui to board three whale watch vessels (donated by three local whale watching companies) where they recorded whale sightings, conducted water quality tests, and participated in other marine research activities. On another excursion, 15 students and three teachers boarded the NOAA's ship Ka'imimoana to shadow pilots and scientists and learn about ship board operations, the DeepWorker and sanctuary research.
During the SSE Expeditions, approximately 200 students boarded Atlantis Adventures submarines in Kona and Maui to do fish counts and monitoring activities. Students aboard the Maui Atlantis submarine were also in the unique position of being part of the first ever submersible rendezvous! Atlantis submarine was joined by two DeepWorkers piloted by National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence and SSE Director Dr. Sylvia Earle and Sanctuaries' National Science Coordinator Steve Gittings.
Educators and scientists benefited too
from the Hawaii Expeditions. During the first leg, SSE
explorers practiced shipboard procedures, tested the
submersibles and their equipment, conducted pilot checkout
dives, and conducted dives for education and outreach
purposes. The second leg focused on research dives in the
four island region of Maui, Moloka'i, Läna'i and
Kaho'olawe. Students get an up
close look at the DeepWorker and learn more about
sanctuary research. (Photo: Laura Francis)
The Hawaii Expedition was a joint endeavor with American Marine Corporation which provided a vessel, American Islander, two submersibles (DeepWorker #8 and #9) and personnel support. NOAA's ship Ka'imimoana was used as a multi purpose platform for launch and recovery, night acoustic surveys and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) work. Sanctuary research dives quickly surpassed everyone's greatest expectations.
Overall, 25 dives were completed during the mission including four night dives. The deepest dive for a SSE mission was obtained off Palaoa (sperm whale) Point, Lanai where the DeepWorker dove to 1,299 feet. A rare pelagic octopod, Haliphron atlanticus, was observed and captured on film by Dr. Earle on the last dive of the mission. Several habitat characterization and black coral survey dives were conducted off Lahaina. In addition, explorers surveyed the Lahaina Roads area, a "drowned reef" 2-3 miles off Lahaina. This unique lagoon features black coral along the walls of the former freshwater lake and Halimeda and Rhodolith communities on the bottom floor.
At the conclusion, the explorers--both SSE and student--pronounced the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary expedition a resounding success. The mission log and more extensive details about this mission can be found at http://sustainableseas.noaa.gov/.
February 8, 2000
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Revised August 15, 2001 by Sanctuaries Web Group Many links leave the National Marine Sanctuary Web Site - please view our Link Disclaimer for more information National Ocean Service | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | U.S. Department of Commerce | NOAA Library | Privacy Policy Contact Us | http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/features/news000201.html |
