NA164 | Nautilus Live
2024 Expedition
E Mamana Ou Gataifale I - American Samoa
August 10 – 28, 2024
NA164
Summary
24
deployments from Nautilus
357
eDNA samples collected
38
live ship-to-shore interactions
651
km
of seafloor mapped
>100,000
live stream views
NA164 Expedition Summary
Data
Geological samples
University of Rhode Island Marine Geological Samples Lab
Jason Fahy
Expedition Lead
Magdalene Augafa-Leauanae
Lead Educator NMSAS
Eric Hayden
Lead Technologist - Mesobot
Val Schmidt
Lead Technologist- DriX
Annette Govindarajan
Lead Scientist - Mesobot
Over the last three years, the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute has been advancing the integration of multiple exploration technologies aboard E/V
Nautilus,
and this year, we bring these new capacities to American Samoa. E Mamana Ou Gataifale I is an 18-day telepresence-enabled expedition will utilize
uncrewed surface vehicle
DriX
autonomous underwater vehicle
Mesobot
, and the
Deep Autonomous Profiler Lander
launched from E/V
Nautilus
to explore the dynamic seafloor and water column habitats surrounding Vailulu'u Seamount, in addition to midwater and other unexplored deep-sea habitats in the region.
Learn more about the expedition name
and
it’s pronunciation
Vailulu’u Seamount, located in the Muliāva unit of the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, lies directly above the Samoa Hotspot and is the only hydrothermally active seamount in American Samoa. Discovered in 1975, Vailulu'u Seamount has been mapped by multiple expeditions since using high-resolution multibeam sonars, including by E/V
Nautilus
in 2019. This expedition will return for the first surveys of the area since a 2022 cluster of seafloor earthquakes. Using multiple underwater vehicles, the team will search for changes to the feature to help further understand this site and inform preparedness planning for local communities. Exploring these sites will also provide a gateway to captivate and engage broad audiences across American Samoa and the Pacific Island Region through telepresence-based exploration. Specific cruise objectives will continue to be refined as we work with local community and scientific partners.
This expedition is funded by NOAA Ocean Exploration via the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute.
Expedition Partners
Meet the Team
Elias Adediran
Navigator
Ella Ashford
Science Team
Magdalene Augafa-Leauanae
Guest Educator
Amanda Bittinger
Navigator
Julian Blanco
DAP Lander Team
Tim Burbank
Atalanta Pilot
Natalie Cook
Shoreside DriX Team
Lynette Davis
Mapping Coordinator
Aurora Elmore
Co-Science Lead
Jason Fahy
Expedition Leader
KG Fairbarn
DriX Team
Talofa Fe'a
Science Team
Amber Flynn
Lead Video Engineer
Zachary Garmoe
Video Systems Engineering Intern
Roy Gilboa
DAP Lander Team
Annette Govindarajan
Co-Lead Scientist
Moronke Harris
Science Manager
Eric Hayden
Mesobot Team
Kristopher Krasnosky
Lead Navigator
Liualevaiosina Le'iato
Ocean Science Intern
Luke McCartin
Science Team
Luke Millen
Science Team
Avery Munoz
DriX Team
Marley Parker
Communication Lead
Basile Rose
DriX Team
Thomas Scanlon
Deck Chief
Val Schmidt
DriX Team
Milan Sengthep
Science Team
Jordan Stanway
Mesobot Team
Andrea Vale
Video Engineer
Nova West
Documentarian
Nina Yang
Mesobot Team
Dana Yoerger
Mesobot Team Lead
Gallery Highlights
View video
Video:
eDNA Ashore: Building a Coral Genetic Library
View video
Video:
eDNA Ashore: Studying Ocean Biodiversity
View video
Video:
Relive the Best of E/V Nautilus 2024 Expedition Highlights
Blog:
Exploring the Sister Sanctuaries: OET in American Samoa and Palau
View video
Video:
E Mamana ou Gataifale expeditions in American Samoa
Blog:
Folau i lagi mā : Keep an Open Mind
+13
Photo album:
E Mamana Ou Gataifale I: Exploring American Samoa Together
Blog:
Meet Ocean Explorer Ella Ashford
View video
Video:
Exploring the Deep with the DAP Lander
View video
Video:
Exploring Midwater Migrations over American Samoan Seamounts
Blog:
The Special People That Work on Ships
Blog:
Exploring Vailuluʻu Seamount’s Geology and Biology
Blog:
Meet Ocean Explorer Zachary Garmoe
Blog:
Exploring Midwater Ecosystems with Collaborative Technology Throughout American Samoa
Blog:
American Samoa Expeditions Granted Name: E Mamana Ou Gataifale
Blog:
Ocean Exploration Trust Launches 2024 Expedition Season on May 25 to Explore Unknown Areas of the Western, Central, and Eastern Pacific Ocean
Expedition Posts
Selected Publications
2025
Wagner, D. (ed.)
(2025).
The Ocean Exploration Trust 2024 Field Season.
: 88 pp.
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