Preferred due date for exploration recommendations: March 15th, 2025.

As part of our community-driven exploration model, NOAA Ocean Exploration invites you to submit exploration recommendations for mapping and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

These expeditions will contribute to the Beyond the Blue: Illuminating the Pacific campaign. This multiyear, multiplatform collaborative regional campaign focuses on raising collective knowledge and understanding of waters in the Pacific Islands, which have been identified as a priority for exploration and characterization. By responding to this call for input with mapping requests and dive target areas for NOAA Ocean Exploration to consider in the design of upcoming expeditions, you may be able to contribute to the campaign and advance your own scientific interests.

In 2025, Okeanos Explorer’s schedule will feature a telepresence-enabled ROV expedition to Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

Please provide your recommendations through NOAA Ocean Exploration’s Survey123 call for input form. For help developing and submitting your recommendations, review the instructions for using Survey123 as well as Okeanos Explorer's operational capabilities (pdf, 8.11 MB).

If your request contains sensitive underwater cultural heritage data or information, please email it directly to archaeology.oceanexploration@noaa.gov 

Please note that submission does not guarantee that NOAA Ocean Exploration will be able to act on your recommendations. Recommendations will be distributed across the expedition schedule and will be refined during collaborative planning conference calls.

NOAA Ocean Exploration encourages anyone who submits recommendations to join expeditions of interest as a member of the shore-based science team.

If you need help with your submission, contact Trish Albano, Expedition Manager, at trish.albano@noaa.gov. If you wish to further discuss science interests, contact NOAA Ocean Exploration's Science Advisor for the campaign, Brian Kennedy, at brian@deepsubmergence.com. To learn more about what was accomplished during NOAA Ocean Exploration's 2024 expeditions, please see the attached summary.

Submit Exploration Recommendations