James Scott, an able seaman on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, guides a NOAA buoy safely to the deck of the ship. This Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory buoy had broken loose from its mooring and had been drifting around the Pacific — from California to Hawai‘i and back to California — for approximately two years before being recovered during the 2023 EXPRESS: Exploration of Central California Coast expedition.
NOAA Buoy Recovery
Image courtesy of Art Howard, Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration/NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2023 EXPRESS: Exploration of Central California Coast. Download larger version (jpg, 3.88 MB).

James Scott, an able seaman on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, guides a NOAA buoy safely to the deck of the ship. This Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory buoy had broken loose from its mooring and had been drifting around the Pacific — from California to Hawai‘i and back to California — for approximately two years before being recovered during the 2023 EXPRESS: Exploration of Central California Coast expedition.