Okeanos Explorer (EX2502): 2025 ROV and Mapping Shakedown

During Mar 17-27, 2025 (Honolulu, Hawai'i to Honolulu, Hawai'i), NOAA Ocean Exploration conducted the 2025 ROV and Mapping Shakedown expedition (EX2502), an expedition with the primary goal to shakedown the remotely operated vehicle (ROV), video, telepresence, seafloor mapping, and sampling operations aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. Operations during this 11-day expedition included the completion of 8 successful remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dives, which were conducted in seafloor depths ranging from 322 m to 4683 m for approximately 32.5 hours of bottom time and resulted in the collection of 41 samples.

This research used data collected during NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer expedition EX2502, led by NOAA Ocean Exploration. Taxonomic identifications provided by the Deep-sea Animal Research Center at University of Hawai'i at Manoa. Additional Data Resources: Project website: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/expedition/ex2502/ Expedition report: repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/71168 Data was archived with NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI): ncei.noaa.gov/waf/okeanos-rov-cruises/ex2502/ Specimen/ Sample Data: Sample records archived at NCEI: ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0241/0311845/1.1/data/0-data/EX_SODA_Archive_September_2025/exports/EX2502_Cruise_Specimens.xlsx Biological samples were sent to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (SNMNH): collections.nmnh.si.edu/search/iz/ Geological samples were sent to University of Rhode Island’s Marine Geological Sample Laboratory (MGSL): mgsl.uri.edu/?q=EX2502 Water collected and filtered for eDNA analyses were sent to the SNMNH.