E Mamana Ou Gataifale I: Exploring American Samoa Together

During our first expedition in American Samoa this year, we utilized multiple autonomous vehicles to collect valuable data at Vailulu'u Seamount. 

Over the last three years, the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute (OECI) has been advancing the integration of multiple exploration technologies aboard E/V Nautilus, but this expedition marked the first time these tools have been directed at an active seamount. 

With support from the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa (NMSAS), the entire team was excited to bring these cutting-edge systems to this special archipelago in the South Pacific.