Remote Underwater Exploration
The incredibly rare and thought-to-be-extinct Pink Handfish was recently spotted using a baited drop camera in the Tasman Fracture Marine Park, first sighting in ~22 years! The Pink Handfish, Brachiopsilus dianthus, is a member of the anglerfish family but gets its name from its hand-like pectoral fins and its unusual colour.
Full article at: ABCNews 23dec21
MBARI researchers used ROV Subastian to capture stunning images of life around hydrothermal vents, including calcite spires, hydrothermal mirror pools and iridescent scale worms living in temperatures approaching 287 Celsius (549 Fahrenheit).
Their 33-day long expedition focused on mapping the seafloor, exploring tectonic processes, measuring heat flow, and sampling microbes.
Full article at: Smithsonian Magazine 22nov21
Nice to see increasing interest in ROVs for quick and safe underwater visual inspections:
Video at: 9news.com.au
MBARI’s ROV Ventana spotted this very rare barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) last week, with a see-through head!
MBARI’s ROV was cruising at a depth of ~2,132 feet (650 meters) in the Monterey Submarine Canyon, one of the deepest submarine canyons on the Pacific coast.
The barreleye has two eyes that glow bright green in the ROV lights and a clear, fluid-filled shield that covers its head. The eyes are incredibly light-sensitive and can be oriented straight up, towards the top of the fish’s head, or straight ahead, according to MBARI. Two dark-colored capsules sit in front of the fish’s eyes and contain the organs the animal uses to smell.
Full articles at: MBARI and Live Science 09dec21
The US Marine Corps System Command is testing the use of ROVs for underwater ordnance assessment and disposal.