The manipulator arm of remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Deep Discoverer reaches out to collect the first sample of the 2023 Shakedown + EXPRESS West Coast Exploration expedition at a depth of 3,952 meters (2.46 miles). While the focus of Dive 03 was on “shaking down” the ROVs, the team was happy to collect this zoanthid growing on a dead sponge stalk.
Collecting A Sample
Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2023 Shakedown + EXPRESS West Coast Exploration. Download larger version (jpg, 900 KB).

The manipulator arm of remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Deep Discoverer reaches out to collect the first sample of the 2023 Shakedown + EXPRESS West Coast Exploration expedition at a depth of 3,952 meters (2.46 miles). While the focus of Dive 03 was on “shaking down” the ROVs, the team was happy to collect this zoanthid growing on a dead sponge stalk.