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AssetID: 33867622

Headline: Amazing Images From Undersea Expedition of 'Unknown Areas'

Caption: PICTURE SHOWS: An asteroschematid snake star coiled among the branches of a small plexaurid octocoral, and surrounded by the spiny arms of large Novodinia brisingid sea stars on a craggy carbonate pinnacle discovered during Dive 13 at Tunica Mound at a depth of 401 meters (1,315 feet). .... These amazing images highlight some of the fascinating undersea life revealed by the American scientific agency NOAA's recent exploration of previously unknown areas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) expedition was "to collect critical baseline information about unknown and poorly known deepwater areas in the Gulf of Mexico." The agency have now released the colourful findings of the trip which took place between 29 November - 21 December. It began in Key West, Florida, and ended in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Highlights include a "particularly grumpy-looking" ophidiiform cusk eel encountered at a depth of 1,585 meters (5,200 feet), a bright orange sea toad, and a hermit crab using an anemone as a substitute for a shell. During the cruise, the at-sea and shore-based science teams worked together to map the seafloor and make deepwater scientific observations in exploration areas. The ship conducted 24-hour operations consisting of daytime remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dives and overnight mapping operations, including during transit. Mapping and ROV dives with high-resolution visual surveys and limited sampling activities focused on priority dive sites and mapping areas in the Gulf of Mexico. The dive sites were expected to include deep-sea coral and sponge habitats, chemosyntheic communities, and potential shipwrecks. A NOAA spokesperson explains: "Despite the Gulf of Mexico’s proximity to land and the significant industrial footprint in the area, there is still much to explore. The Gulf of Mexico contains significant submerged maritime heritage sites that have yet to be explored. Additionally, the Gulf contains a wide range of habitats and interesting geological features ranging from brine pools to coral gardens and canyons to mud volcanoes. The rich and diverse habitats of the Gulf make it an excellent target for interdisciplinary exploration through telepresence due to the broad range of species and habitats for scientists to find." "This expedition will contribute to foundational information in the region to catalyse further exploration, research, and management activities," say NOAA. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is an American scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce that focuses on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere.

Keywords: NOAA,Okeanos Explorer

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