Day Four: Benham Rise Expedition - Oceana Philippines
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May 27, 2016

Day Four: Benham Rise Expedition

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Day 4: May 27, 2016

Soft coral belonging to the genus Sarcophyton Photo by UVP/UNCW ©Oceana

BRUVS preparations began at 4:45 this morning. Not long after, we deployed the ROV for its first of two dives today. The first site was full of different types of coral with low relief, and the second spot boasted beautiful soft corals interspersed with sand patches.

The scuba dive today was more challenging because of a strong current, but Karl and Miko are pros and they managed to capture incredible images anyway. Check our Flickr page to see them! The Benthos team is also busy now preserving specimens collected by the Philippine Navy during yesterday’s dive. Labeling the specimens is important work, but definitely makes for one smelly lab!

One of the great things about an expedition like this is how teams from different organizations pull together to help one another. Oceana, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the University of the Philippines Los Banos, navy and coast guard and everyone on board is working towards the same goal: to learn about this incredible place and document the vast amount of life it sustains.

Good night from the middle of the ocean!

Margot and Mar