A Pacific Flatnose fish seen on arrival at the Axial Base site (2600m) during Dive R1739. Cable AXVMW3 is seen on the left. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive 1739, V14

The HPIES instrument is being lowered over the side of the R/V Thompson for installation at the base of Axial Seamount. The HPIES (Horizontal Electrometer Pressure Inverted Echosounder) measures the horizontal electrical field, the bottom pressure, and the acoustic travel time from the seafloor to the sea surface to characterize the properties of the water column.

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Southern Hydrate Ridge is located ~ 100 km west of Newport Oregon at a water depth of 780 m. Credit: University of Washiington, Center for Environmental Visualization.

The carbonate bioherm at Southern Hydrate Ridge rises ~ 60 m above the seafloor. Credit. University of Washington, Center for Environmental Visualization.

Hydrate 3

The carbonate bioherm at Southern Hydrate Ridge rises ~ 60 m above the seafloor. Credit. University of Washington, Center for Environmental Visualization.

Hydrothermal

Endeavor Vent Field

Vent Field Mechanics

A close-up picture of the skinny fish seen at 565m depth at the Axial Base site. It has been tentatively identified as Bathylychnops exilis or a Paralepidid by Brian Sidlauskas and Ben Frable (OSU) Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive 1738, V14

A small cranchiid squid at the Axial Base site at 1318 m water depth. Tentatively identified as Taonius by cephalopod expert Stephanie Bush (MBARI). Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF, ROPOS Dive R1738, V14.

An orange Peniagone cucumber swimming past ROPOS during the AXVMW3 cable lay at Axial Base (2600m) Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive 1738, V14

Attaching a strain relief line to the Yale grip on cable AXVMW3 at Axial Base. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive 1738, V14

ROPOS removing the bungee holding slack cable from AXVMW3 onto ROCLS, at the Axial Base site. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive 1738, V14

The port manipulator of ROPOS ROV removing the brake from the ROCLS cable laying system at the Axial Base site (2600 m depth). Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive 1738, V14

A large rattail swims beside LJ03A and LV03A at the Axial Base site (2600 meters deep). Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive 1738, V14

A red siphonophore encountered during the descent to the Axial Base site, at 729 meters depth. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive 1738, V14

A skinny fish (either Bathylychnops exilis or a Paralepidid) seen during the ROPOS descent to the Axial Base site, at 565 meters. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive 1738, V14

ROPOS about to go for a night dive

Rachel with a Velella velella jellyfish

A bunch of Peniagone taking flight during a ROCLS cable lay at the Axial Base site. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive 1737, V14

The empty ROCLS spool on the seafloor at Axial Base, after laying cable AXVMW4 from LV03A to the deep profiler site. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive 1737, V14

A Peniagone sea cucumber swam past ROPOS during dive 1737, prior to laying cable AXVMW4 on the seafloor at Axial Base. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive 1737, V14

A Peniagone sea cucumber swam past ROPOS prior to laying AXVMW4 on the seafloor. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive 1737, V14