Dr. Samantha Joye and her multi-national team is comparing the biology, geology, chemistry, and microbiology of sites along the southern to the northern Gulf of California. The northern area is largely unexplored and the geological characteristics, microbiology, and seafloor fauna are unknown, making a portion of the expedition exploratory in nature. They are exploring known and new sites in the Guaymas and Pescadero Basins, building on previous work and diving on new sites. The team aims to identify and quantify habitat-specific microbial populations and assess how those microorganisms interact with the geologic structures and megafauna of vents, seeps, and hydrates. The scientists are visiting eight areas in the Gulf, seeking to reveal previously unknown areas with shipboard mapping that is followed by collection of sediment, fluid, and microbiology samples collected with ROV SuBastian. In-situ tools including the ABISS autonomous lander and jumbo osmotic fluid samplers will be used to obtain geochemical data under in situ conditions. Together, these data will help us unravel the microbial mysteries of the Gulf of California.

ROV SuBastian Dive 231 – Microbial Mysteries
Date: 2/27/2019
Location: Pacific Ocean – Gulf of California
Depth: To 2000 m
Work Completed: The team went to the Guaymas Basin in the Gulf of California, Mexico to explore and recover equipment previously left nearby.

ROV SuBastian Dive 232 – Microbial Mysteries – Guaymas Basin: Big Pagoda
Date: 2/28/2019
Location: Pacific Ocean – Gulf of California
Depth: To 2000 m
Work Completed: The team went to the Guaymas Basin in the Gulf of California, Mexico to explore a new site that has not yet been visited.

ROV SuBastian Dive 233 – Microbial Mysteries – Guaymas Basin: Quetzalcóatl
Date: 3/1/2019
Location: Pacific Ocean – Gulf of California
Depth: To 2000 m
Work Completed: The team’s main objective was to identify the source of a 1,500m tall gas plume detected by the shipboard acoustic system two nights prior.

ROV SuBastian Dive 234 – Microbial Mysteries – Northern Seeps
Date: 3/2/2019
Location: Pacific Ocean – Gulf of California
Depth: To 1500 m
Work Completed: The team’s main objective was to explore fluid venting in the Northern seep field.

ROV SuBastian Dive 236 – Microbial Mysteries – Northern Seeps
Date: 3/2/2019
Location: Pacific Ocean – Gulf of California
Depth: To 1500 m
Work Completed: The team’s main objective was to explore fluid vents, deploy in situ instruments and collect biological samples. The SOI Lander was deployed shortly before the dive with water sampling devices. SuBastian will reposition the Lander closer to the plumes that Falkor detected during the night survey.

ROV SuBastian Dive 237 – Microbial Mysteries – Northern Seeps
Date: 3/4/2019
Location: Pacific Ocean – Gulf of California
Depth: To 1500 m
Work Completed: The team’s main objective was to explore fluid vents, deploy in situ instruments and collect biological samples. 

ROV SuBastian Dive 238 – Microbial Mysteries – Alvin Spire, N Cathedral and Big Pagoda
Date: 3/5/2019
Location: Pacific Ocean – Gulf of California
Depth: To 2000 m
Work Completed: The team’s main objective was to collect samples and characterize and further explore the areas around venting chimney sites. The team returned to Big Pagoda for biological samples.

ROV SuBastian Dive 239 – Microbial Mysteries – Alvin Spire, N Cathedral and Big Pagoda Revisited
Date: 3/6/2019
Location: Pacific Ocean – Gulf of California
Depth: To 2000 m
Work Completed: The team’s main objective was to deploy water samplers and collect in tact chimney samples.

ROV SuBastian Dive 240 – Microbial Mysteries – Alvin Spire, N Cathedral and Big Pagoda Part 5
Date: 3/7/2019
Location: Pacific Ocean – Gulf of California
Depth: To 2000 m
Work Completed: The team’s main objective was to collect and deploy water samplers and find elusive biological specimens.

ROV SuBastian Dive 241 – Microbial Mysteries – Alvin Spire, N Cathedral and Big Pagoda Part 6
Date: 3/8/2019
Location: Pacific Ocean – Gulf of California
Depth: To 2000 m
Work Completed: The team’s main objective was to explore the Valley of Poseidon’s Pagodas and discover and document new mirror flanges.

ROV SuBastian Dive 242 – Microbial Mysteries – Sonora Margin Part Four
Date: 3/9/2019
Location: Pacific Ocean – Gulf of California
Depth: To 2000 m
Work Completed: The team’s main objective was to deploy in situ instrumentation and document the distribution of exposed methane hydrate mounds. The team also collected a suite of biological and chemical samples.

ROV SuBastian Dive 244 – Microbial Mysteries – Alvin Spire, N Cathedral and Big Pagoda Part 7
Date: 3/10/2019
Location: Pacific Ocean – Gulf of California
Depth: To 2000 m
Work Completed: The team’s main objective was to collect a final set of samples and explore two new Pagodas.