The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is one of the world’s best-known reef systems, however its deep reef and canyon ecosystems are largely a mystery. ROV SuBastian will collect samples, sediment cores, and high-resolution imagery of deep canyons and reefs that extend down to 2,500m. ROV SuBastian will also be outfitted with a high-resolution camera from JAMSTEC to image plankton throughout the water column.

An important goal of the expedition is to study the mesophotic and deeper reefs in the region. This work will highlight the importance of high-relief features globally for marine biodiversity conservation and provide a template for a survey approach to effectively inform management of high-value, remote areas. These deeper reefs may play a key role by providing a refuge for surface and other marine species that are negatively affected by climate change. Identifying the role of deeper reefs is crucial as bleaching events in the GBR and surrounding surface reefs are increasing as the ocean warms.

The expedition will create a rich dataset of seafloor biological and geophysical data enabling researchers to understand the habitat provided by large-scale seabed features in the region. The expedition will provide key insights that will determine if various geologic features host different biological communities, and if there are species endemic to the region. Furthermore, the information resulting from the expedition will greatly improve knowledge of these highly-valued ecosystems and is essential for their responsible management and protection.

ROV SuBastian Dive 371 (Part A) – Coral Sea Marine Park – North Flinders Reef
Date: August 2, 2020 (02.08.2020)
Location: Northern margin of Flinders Reef, NE Australia
Estimated Maximum Depth: 500m
Work Completed: This is the first dive of the expedition. The team will observe the geological features and biological communities on the steep and deep margin of the reef. The goal is to identify – for the first time – the biological communities that inhabit the deep margins of the reef, which is a large scale feature of the Coral Sea Marine Park.

ROV SuBastian Dive 372 (Part B) – Coral Sea Marine Park – North Flinders Reef
Date: August 3, 2020 (03.08.2020)
Location: Northern margin of Flinders Reef, NE Australia
Estimated Maximum Depth: 350m
Work Completed: This is the second dive of the expedition. The team will observe the geological features and biological communities on the steep and deep margin of the reef. The goal is to identify – for the first time – the biological communities that inhabit the deep margins of the reef, which is a large scale feature of the Coral Sea Marine Park. 

ROV SuBastian Dive 387 – Coral Sea Marine Park – Ribbon Reef Canyons
Date: August 18, 2020 (18.08.2020)
Location: The submarine canyons of the outer Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, around 170 km northeast of Cairns
Estimated Maximum Depth: 950m
Work Completed: Diving in the upper section of a canyon that connects directly to the shallow waters of the Great Barrier Reef, offshore from Ribbon Reef 5. Here we use the high resolution cameras and robotic arm of the ROV to observe and collect samples of the geology and seabed organisms. The dive will start at 950 meters water depth and ascend to 700m at the top of the canyon wall.

ROV SuBastian Dive 373 (Part A) – Coral Sea Marine Park – Cairns Seamount
Date: August 5, 2020 (05.08.2020)
Location: Cairns Seamount, which is located in the Coral Sea Marine Park, around 150 km east of Cairns
Estimated Maximum Depth: Approximately 1,200m
Work Completed: Observing in high resolution, and strategically sampling, the geology and seabed organisms on the steep and deep margin of the seamount, at depths from approximately 1,200 to 60 meters.

ROV SuBastian Dive 373 (Part B) – Coral Sea Marine Park – Cairns Seamount
Date: August 5, 2020 (05.08.2020)
Location: Cairns Seamount, which is located in the Coral Sea Marine Park, around 150 km east of Cairns
Estimated Maximum Depth: Approximately 1,200m
Work Completed: Observing in high resolution, and strategically sampling, the geology and seabed organisms on the steep and deep margin of the seamount, at depths from approximately 1,200 to 60 meters.

ROV SuBastian Dive 374 – Coral Sea Marine Park – Cairns Seamount
Date: August 6, 2020 (06.08.2020)
Location: Cairns Seamount, which is located in the Coral Sea Marine Park, around 150 km east of Cairns
Estimated Maximum Depth: 800m
Work Completed: Observing in high resolution, and strategically sampling, the geology and seabed organisms on the steep margin of the seamount, at depths from approximately 800 to 60 meters.

ROV SuBastian Dive 376 – Coral Sea Marine Park – Herald Cays
Date: August 7, 2020 (07.08.2020)
Location: Northern margin of Herald Cays in the Coral Sea Marine Park, around 277 km east of Cairns
Estimated Maximum Depth: 700m
Work Completed: Observing in high resolution, and strategically sampling, the geology and seabed organisms on the steep margin of the seamount, at depths from approximately 700 to 60 meters.

ROV SuBastian Dive 377 – Coral Sea Marine Park – Malay Reef
Date: August 7, 2020 (07.08.2020)
Location: Northern margin of Malay Reef in the Coral Sea Marine Park, around 400 km southeast of Cairns
Estimated Maximum Depth: 600m
Work Completed: Observing in high resolution, and strategically sampling, the geology and seabed organisms on the steep margin of the seamount, at depths from approximately 600 to 60 meters.

ROV SuBastian Dive 378 – Coral Sea Marine Park – Ribbon Reef Canyons
Date: August 14, 2020 (14.08.2020)
Location: The submarine canyons of the outer Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, around 170 km northeast of Cairns
Estimated Maximum Depth: 1400m
Work Completed: In this dive we visit the outer part of the canyon located offshore from Ribbon Reef 5. Here we use the high resolution cameras and robotic arm of the ROV to observe and collect samples of the geology and seabed organisms on the steep southern wall of the canyon. The dive will start at 1800 meters water depth and continue up the canyon wall to approximately 1400 meters.

ROV SuBastian Dive 379 – Coral Sea Marine Park – Ribbon Reef Canyons
Date: August 15, 2020 (15.08.2020)
Location: The submarine canyons of the outer Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, around 170 km northeast of Cairns
Estimated Maximum Depth: 1350m
Work Completed: In this dive we visit the mid part of the canyon located offshore from Ribbon Reef 5. Here we use the high resolution cameras and robotic arm of the ROV to observe and collect samples of the geology and seabed organisms on the steep southern wall of the canyon. The dive will start at 1350 meters water depth in the canyon floor and continue up the canyon wall to approximately 1000 meters.

ROV SuBastian Dive 384 – Coral Sea Marine Park – Ribbon Reef Canyons
Date: August 17, 2020 (17.08.2020)
Location: The submarine canyons of the outer Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, around 170 km northeast of Cairns
Estimated Maximum Depth: 600m
Work Completed: In this dive we visit the mid part of the canyon located offshore from Ribbon Reef 5. Here we use the high resolution cameras and robotic arm of the ROV to observe and collect samples of the geology and seabed organisms on the steep southern wall of the canyon. The dive will start at 600 meters water depth and proceed all the way up to the surface.

ROV SuBastian Dive 385 (Part A) – Coral Sea Marine Park – Ribbon Reef Canyons
Date: August 18, 2020 (18.08.2020)
Location: The submarine canyons of the outer Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, around 170 km northeast of Cairns
Estimated Maximum Depth: 600m
Work Completed: Diving in the upper section of a canyon that connects directly to the shallow waters of the Great Barrier Reef, offshore from Ribbon Reef 5. Here we use the high resolution cameras and robotic arm of the ROV to observe and collect samples of the geology and seabed organisms. The dive will start at 600 meters water depth and proceed all the way up to the surface.

ROV SuBastian Dive 385 (Part B) – Coral Sea Marine Park – Ribbon Reef Canyons
Date: August 18, 2020 (18.08.2020)
Location: The submarine canyons of the outer Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, around 170 km northeast of Cairns
Estimated Maximum Depth: 600m
Work Completed: Diving in the upper section of a canyon that connects directly to the shallow waters of the Great Barrier Reef, offshore from Ribbon Reef 5. Here we use the high resolution cameras and robotic arm of the ROV to observe and collect samples of the geology and seabed organisms. The dive will start at 600 meters water depth and proceed all the way up to the surface.

ROV SuBastian Dive 386 (Part A) – Coral Sea Marine Park – Ribbon Reef Canyons
Date: August 18, 2020 (18.08.2020)
Location: The submarine canyons of the outer Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, around 170 km northeast of Cairns
Estimated Maximum Depth: 1400m
Work Completed: Diving in the upper section of a canyon that connects directly to the shallow waters of the Great Barrier Reef, offshore from Ribbon Reef 5. Here we use the high resolution cameras and robotic arm of the ROV to observe and collect samples of the geology and seabed organisms. The dive will start at 1400 meters water depth and ascend to 1000m at the top of the canyon wall.

ROV SuBastian Dive 386 (Part B) – Coral Sea Marine Park – Ribbon Reef Canyons
Date: August 18, 2020 (18.08.2020)
Location: The submarine canyons of the outer Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, around 170 km northeast of Cairns
Estimated Maximum Depth: 1400m
Work Completed: Diving in the upper section of a canyon that connects directly to the shallow waters of the Great Barrier Reef, offshore from Ribbon Reef 5. Here we use the high resolution cameras and robotic arm of the ROV to observe and collect samples of the geology and seabed organisms. The dive will start at 1400 meters water depth and ascend to 1000m at the top of the canyon wall.

ROV SuBastian Dive 387 – Coral Sea Marine Park – Ribbon Reef Canyons
Date: August 18, 2020 (18.08.2020)
Location: The submarine canyons of the outer Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, around 170 km northeast of Cairns
Estimated Maximum Depth: 950m
Work Completed: Diving in the upper section of a canyon that connects directly to the shallow waters of the Great Barrier Reef, offshore from Ribbon Reef 5. Here we use the high resolution cameras and robotic arm of the ROV to observe and collect samples of the geology and seabed organisms. The dive will start at 950 meters water depth and ascend to 700m at the top of the canyon wall.

ROV SuBastian Dive 388 – Coral Sea Marine Park – Ribbon Reef Canyons
Date: August 19, 2020 (19.08.2020)
Location: The submarine canyons of the outer Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, around 170 km northeast of Cairns
Estimated Maximum Depth: 1550m
Work Completed: This dive is in the lower section of a deeply incised canyon that is connected to the continental shelf, offshore from Ribbon Reef 9. Here we use the high resolution cameras and robotic arm of the ROV to observe and collect samples of the geology and seabed organisms. The dive will start at 1550 meters water depth and ascend to 1300m.

ROV SuBastian Dive 389 – Coral Sea Marine Park – Osprey Reef
Date: August 20, 2020 (20.08.2020)
Location: The submarine canyons of the outer Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, around 170 km northeast of Cairns
Estimated Maximum Depth: 1500m
Work Completed: This dive is in the lower section of Osprey Reef, located 170 km from the coast. Here we use the high resolution cameras and robotic arm of the ROV to observe and collect samples of the geology and seabed organisms. The dive will start at 1500 meters water depth and ascend to 1200m.

ROV SuBastian Dive 390 – Coral Sea Marine Park – Osprey Reef
Date: August 21, 2020 (21.08.2020)
Location: The submarine canyons of the outer Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, around 170 km northeast of Cairns
Estimated Maximum Depth: 1500m
Work Completed: This dive is in the lower section of Osprey Reef, located 170 km from the coast. Here we use the high resolution cameras and robotic arm of the ROV to observe and collect samples of the geology and seabed organisms. The dive will start at 1500 meters water depth and ascend to 1200m.

ROV SuBastian Dive 391 – Coral Sea Marine Park – Tregrosse Reefs (Diamond Islets)
Date: August 23, 2020 (23.08.2020)
Location: The Tregrosse Reefs (Diamond Islets), within the Coral Sea Marine Park
Estimated Maximum Depth: 300m
Work Completed: This dive is in the Tregrosse Reefs (Diamond Islets). Here we use the high resolution cameras and robotic arm of the ROV to observe and collect samples of the geology and seabed organisms. The dive will start at 300 meters water depth and ascend to 150m.

ROV SuBastian Dive 392 (Part A) – Coral Sea Marine Park – Tregrosse Reefs (Diamond Islets)
Date: August 24, 2020 (24.08.2020)
Location: The Tregrosse Reefs (Diamond Islets), within the Coral Sea Marine Park
Estimated Maximum Depth: 450m
Work Completed: This dive is in the Tregrosse Reefs (Diamond Islets). Here we use the high resolution cameras and robotic arm of the ROV to observe and collect samples of the geology and seabed organisms. The dive will start at 450 meters water depth and ascend to 150m.

ROV SuBastian Dive 392 (Part B) – Coral Sea Marine Park – Tregrosse Reefs (Diamond Islets)
Date: August 24, 2020 (24.08.2020)
Location: The Tregrosse Reefs (Diamond Islets), within the Coral Sea Marine Park
Estimated Maximum Depth: 450m
Work Completed: This dive is in the Tregrosse Reefs (Diamond Islets). Here we use the high resolution cameras and robotic arm of the ROV to observe and collect samples of the geology and seabed organisms. The dive will start at 450 meters water depth and ascend to 150m.

ROV SuBastian Dive 392 (Part C) – Coral Sea Marine Park – Tregrosse Reefs (Diamond Islets)
Date: August 24, 2020 (24.08.2020)
Location: The Tregrosse Reefs (Diamond Islets), within the Coral Sea Marine Park
Estimated Maximum Depth: 450m
Work Completed: This dive is in the Tregrosse Reefs (Diamond Islets). Here we use the high resolution cameras and robotic arm of the ROV to observe and collect samples of the geology and seabed organisms. The dive will start at 450 meters water depth and ascend to 150m.