<strong>A ground-breaking expedition:</strong> The Maldives is famous for its stunning seas, making it the ultimate getaway for scuba divers. But little is known about what lies far below the surface. A new expedition plans to remedy that.
A ground-breaking expedition: The Maldives is famous for its stunning seas, making it the ultimate getaway for scuba divers. But little is known about what lies far below the surface. A new expedition plans to remedy that.
Vakkuru/Nekton/AP
<strong>Nekton Maldives Mission:</strong> The Nekton Maldives Mission is made up of a teams from around the world. Crews will set out on September 4 to undertake the first systematic survey and sampling of the Maldives from the surface to depths of 1,000 meters. <br />
Nekton Maldives Mission: The Nekton Maldives Mission is made up of a teams from around the world. Crews will set out on September 4 to undertake the first systematic survey and sampling of the Maldives from the surface to depths of 1,000 meters.
Nekton/AP
<strong>Submersibles: </strong>The RV Odyssey will carry scientists from the Maldives, UK, India, and South Africa on the 35-day mission. The ship has two submersibles, each of which can carry a pilot and two scientists. Pictured is REV Ocean's Aurelia, which Nekton says is certified as the world's most advanced craft of her kind and can operate at depths of up to 1,000 meters.
Submersibles: The RV Odyssey will carry scientists from the Maldives, UK, India, and South Africa on the 35-day mission. The ship has two submersibles, each of which can carry a pilot and two scientists. Pictured is REV Ocean's Aurelia, which Nekton says is certified as the world's most advanced craft of her kind and can operate at depths of up to 1,000 meters.
Lawrence Hislop/Nekton/AP
<strong>Omega Seamaster 2:</strong> The Omega Seamaster 2, pictured, will be used to explore the first 500 meters below the surface.
Omega Seamaster 2: The Omega Seamaster 2, pictured, will be used to explore the first 500 meters below the surface.
Nekton/AP
<strong>No need for scuba masks:</strong> A submersible pilot reaches out to a grouper through the vessel's acrylic hull in 2019, during an expedition in the Seychelles.
No need for scuba masks: A submersible pilot reaches out to a grouper through the vessel's acrylic hull in 2019, during an expedition in the Seychelles.
Nekton/AP
<strong>Rising seas: </strong>A manta ray floats above fish in a photo taken earlier this year in Vakkuru, Maldives. According to Nekton, the Maldives is 99% ocean and just 1% land, sitting about 1.5 meters above the sea on average. As a result, the nation faces a growing threat from the rising seas.
Rising seas: A manta ray floats above fish in a photo taken earlier this year in Vakkuru, Maldives. According to Nekton, the Maldives is 99% ocean and just 1% land, sitting about 1.5 meters above the sea on average. As a result, the nation faces a growing threat from the rising seas.
Vakkuru/Nekton/AP
<strong>Below scuba depth: </strong>Feather stars cling to deep sea rock, photographed during Nekton's First Descent Seychelles Expedition in 2019 -- the first systematic survey below scuba depth in Seychelles. Nekton researchers hope government officials, armed with more knowledge of what their country's waters contain, can better protect what lives there and safeguard the environment those species inhabit.
Below scuba depth: Feather stars cling to deep sea rock, photographed during Nekton's First Descent Seychelles Expedition in 2019 -- the first systematic survey below scuba depth in Seychelles. Nekton researchers hope government officials, armed with more knowledge of what their country's waters contain, can better protect what lives there and safeguard the environment those species inhabit.
Nekton/AP