Ranger 2012: Exploring Ocean Depths | Oceana

The Ranger

Deep Areas of the Atlantic and Mediterranean

Our underwater robot (ROV) took video footage and high resolution photographs of the underwater flora, fauna and habitats.

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Overview

 

The 2012 Ranger expedition documented the deep areas of the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Our underwater robot (ROV) took video footage and high resolution photographs of the underwater flora, fauna and habitats. The on board team also made initial recordings to aid Oceana scientists who will identify and describe recorded species and habitats. The data will be used to prepare protection and conservation proposals.

The 2012 expedition focused on seamounts with peaks that are so deep they cannot be explored by divers. Seco de los Olivos – one of these seamounts – is an area that Oceana is studying as part of the LIFE+ INDEMARES Project.

Underwater mountains attract numerous species and because of the range of heights and soil types, they host many different biological communities. Oceana studies these areas using transects (moving the ROV along a path), a method that is more complicated than simply dropping the ROV down and pulling it straight back up, but which provides a more comprehensive view of the area.

 

The Crew

Ricardo Aguilar

Senior Advisor & Expedition Leader, Europe

Mario Conde

Deckhand (Spain)

Pedro Alexandrino Silva Ferreira 

Algarve University (Portugal)

Rui Pedro Silva

Aveiro University (Portugal)

Pitu (Josep Maria) Rovirosa

ROV's Technician (Spain)

JesĂşs Molino

Logistic (Spain)

Paulo Jorge Menano

Algarve University (Portugal)

Gorka Leclercq

Underwater videographer (Spain)

Thierry Lannoy

Diving Team Coordinator (France)

Ingrid F. Lacoste

Cook (Argentina)

Eva María Jiménez

Deckhand (Spain)

Josep Fleta

ROV's Technician (Spain)

José Luis Escudero

Deckhand (Spain)

Frederico Miguel Cunha de Oliveira

Algarve University (Portugal)

Videos