NA165 | Nautilus Live
2024 Expedition
E Mamana Ou Gataifale II - American Samoa
September 1 – 24, 2024
NA165
Summary
17
successful ROV dives
598
samples collected
102
live ship-to-shore interactions
8,458
km
of seafloor mapped
199,000
livestream views
NA165 Expedition Summary
Data
Video
full dive recordings
Geological samples
University of Rhode Island Marine Geological Samples Lab
Biological samples
Harvard University Museum of Comparative Zoology
Derek Sowers
Expedition Leader
Adam Soule
Lead Scientist
Val Brown
Lead Scientist NMSAS
Isabel Halatuituia
Lead Educator NMSAS
American Samoa is the southernmost U.S. territory, cen­tered in the South Pacific, 2,300 miles southwest of Hawaiʻi, and 1,500 miles northeast of New Zealand. It is home to the cradle of Polynesia’s oldest culture. The E Mamana Ou Gataifale II expedition will explore deep-sea habitats around American Samoa in collaboration and consultation with the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa (NMSAS) and other partners, providing data needed from deep ocean areas to inform resource management and conservation priorities.
Learn more about the expedition name
and
it’s pronunciation
This expedition will use E/V
Nautilus
’ remotely operated vehicles and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s
autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV)
Sentry
to expand the amount of exploration possible within this 20-day expedition. AUV operations will provide important data for interpretations of seafloor biological density and diversity, enhancing mission planning and opportunities to survey cultural heritage sites. 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, NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations Uncrewed Systems Operations Center, and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management via the
Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute
(OECI) with additional support from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Air/Sea Heritage Foundation, and other partners.
Expedition Partners
Meet the Team
Johann Becker
Navigator
Val Brown
Science Team
Mary Burkitt-Gray
Science Team
Mike Burns
Atalanta Pilot
Tito Collasius
Hercules Pilot
Allisa Dalpe
Sentry Team
Gabriela Espino
Navigator
Justin Fujii
Sentry Team
Jaina Galves
Video Engineer
Chris German
Science Team
Annette Govindarajan
Co-Lead Scientist
Renée Gruner-Mitchell
AUV Sentry Team
Isabel Halatuituia
Guest Educator
Santiago Herrera
Science Team Member
Gabrielle Inglis
Hercules Pilot
Esteban Jose Juan Torres
ROV Engineering Intern
Renato Kane
Expedition Leader
Sean Kelley
AUV Sentry Team
Matt Koskela
Data Engineer
Erica Jonette Leon Guerrero
Science Manager in Training
Samantha-Lynn Martinez
Video Systems Engineering Intern
Dennis (DJ) Pevey
Lead Science Communication Fellow
Meagan Putts
Navigator
Dave Robertson
Lead Video Engineer
Rhye Rolls-DeWolfe
Atalanta Pilot
Christopher Ryen
Science Manager
Thomas Scanlon
Deck Chief
Adam Soule
Co-Lead Scientist
Christopher Thierauf
AUV Sentry Team
Jacob Tomer
Science Team
Setefano Umaga
Science Communication Fellow
Mychal Valle
Atalanta Pilot
Robert Waters
Hercules Pilot
Jamie Zaccaria
Communications 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:
Chimera and Friends in American Samoa
View video
Video:
Approaching Ancient Corals with New Technology
View video
Video:
Exploring the Slope of Vailulu'u Seamount
View video
Video:
Massive Basket Star on Tulaga Seamount
+7
Photo album:
Pink Coral Club: Pink Critters of American Samoa
View video
Video:
Deep-Sea Rays on Vailuluʻu Seamount
View video
Video:
Sampling Hydrothermal Gases on Vailuluʻu Seamount
Blog:
Meet Ocean Explorer Erica Jonette Leon Guerrero
View video
Video:
Anemone Engulfs Isopod
View video
Video:
Fish Skeletons on Active Volcano Vailuluʻu Seamount
View video
Video:
Squat Lobsters' Coconut Condo in Deep Sea
Blog:
AUV Sentry on NA165: Troubleshooting Software at Sea
View video
Video:
Impressive Poliopogon Sponge with Tiny Snails
Blog:
Meet Ocean Explorer Esteban Jose Juan Torres
View video
Video:
Extra Adorable Chaunacops in American Samoa
View video
Video:
Venting Chimneys of Vailuluʻu Seamount
Blog:
Exploring Life at Vailuluʻu with Cutting-Edge Ocean Science Technologies
View video
Video:
Boiling Bubbles of Vailulu`u Seamount
View video
Video:
Giant Molas Spotted Deep Offshore American Samoa
View video
Video:
​​Mouth Breathing Moray Eel
View video
Video:
Pillow Basalts and Hotspot Origins of Tutuila Ridge
Blog:
Meet Ocean Explorer Samantha-Lynn Martinez
View video
Video:
Newly Described Tridentisis Coral Spotted on Tutuila Ridge
Blog:
Searching the Seafloor and Community Memory for the Samoan Clipper
View video
Video:
E Mamana ou Gataifale expeditions in American Samoa
Blog:
Deep Sea Collaboration: ROV Hercules and AUV Sentry Team Up in American Samoa
Blog:
Exploring the Unknown in American Samoa With New Tech
Blog:
Local stories invited in searching for clues to 1938 downed aircraft
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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