Log Post: A first glimpse at the diversity of life in the Perth Canyon

Using high-resolution maps produced by the multi-beam sonar over the last few nights, we were able to explore the first site within the northern section of the Perth Canyon. ROV Comanche dove down to 700 metres (2300 ft) to investigate a steep cliff face that looked promising to find a large variety of deep sea … Continued

Log Post: The Secret World of Deep Sea Corals

One of the main goals of the Perth Canyon research cruise is to locate and collect a variety of marine organisms that are living down at great depths, in particular deep-sea corals. But what are deep-sea corals and why are researchers so interested in them? Deep-sea corals are widely distributed within the earth’s oceans and … Continued

Log Post: Everything You Wanted to Know About ROV Comanche

Yesterday, we sent the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) ‘Comanche’ for it’s first test dive down to 100 meters (328 ft) in Perth Canyon.  The ROV operators tested the manipulators, also known as the ‘claws’, and the opening/closing of the collection trays successfully. Today, we will revisit the same site and spend more time exploring the … Continued

Log Post: Mysteries of Perth Canyon

Although we were able to collect the missing ROV part this morning, there is yet another obstacle to clear before we can explore the Canyon for the first time. As soon as we headed back out to the open ocean, we were met with strong winds and swell that persisted throughout the day. This wild weather … Continued

Log Post: We’re at Sea!

The time has finally come to start our exploration of Perth Canyon and so we left dock early this morning to get a first glimpse of what lies ahead. However, as mentioned in a previous post, not everything always goes according to plan – and in our case we are still missing one part for … Continued

News: Deep Sea Expedition into the Unexplored Perth Canyon Abyss

A group of acclaimed scientists will set out this Sunday for a 12-day expedition to unlock the secrets of a deep ocean gorge the size of the Grand Canyon, aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor. The team headed by University of Western Australia’s Professor Malcolm McCulloch, together with researchers from other institutions in Australia … Continued

Log Post: First Impressions – Exploring RV Falkor

At last, R/V Falkor has entered the Indian Ocean for the first time in her history and is now docked at Henderson, just 35 km (22 miles) south of Perth, where final preparations are made for the upcoming Perth Canyon cruise. Scientists, visitors, and journalists took this opportunity to visit Falkor and participate in a lecture about … Continued