A lush community of vibrant red tube worms grows on a 1 m tall black smoker chimney in the ASHES hydrothermal field. The tube worms, which are hosted in white housings about the diameter of your small finger, are intergrown with brown palm worms.Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1835; V15.

A new high definition camera was installed at the hydrothermal vent called 'Mushroom' in the ASHES hydrothermal field atop Axial Volcano. The camera, built by the UW Applied Physics Lab, was tested today and streamed live HD imagery >300 miles back to shore from a water depth of >5000 m. Credit: Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/ISS; Dive R1835; V15.

A side view of the 12 foot-acoss Shallow Profiler platform on a 2700 m-tall, 2 legged mooring with an instrument package in the foreground hosting acoustic doppler current profilers, a digital still camera, and a variety of chemical and biological sensors. The 'head' of the shallow winched profiler science pod rises above the platform in the background. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/ISS; Dive R1834; V15.

A squadron of Dall's porpoises graced the R/V Thompson on July 7. Credit: Ed McNichol, University of Washington, V15.

ROPOS breaches the surface during Leg 1 of the Cabled Array Expedition. Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington, V15.

Jessica created a sling from half hitch knots to create a safety loop on her VIMOT (very important mug of tea). Credit: Jessica Noe, University of Washington, 15.

The fantail of the R/V Thompson loaded with junction boxes, science pods for the Shallow Profiler Moorings, and a variety of instruments. Credit: Jesse Turner, University of Washington, V15.

Students meet in the library with Deb to discuss the projects that they will begin to work on during this cruise, and which will extend into fall quarter at the UW. Credit: Ed McNichol, V15.

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A side-looking view of the 12 ft-across Shallow Profiler Mooring platform hosting newly installed instrumented science pods. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/ISS; Dive R1831; V15.

The ROV ROPOS begins its ~600 ft descent to the Shallow Profiler Mooring at the Slope Base site with an instrumented Winched Shallow Profiler 'pod' latched to its underbelly. Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington, V15.

Malea learns how to conduct oxygen analyses on seawater from >130 km offshore Newport Oregon. Credit: Deb Kelley, University of Washington, V15.

Jessica helps launch the CTD at the beginning of the Cabled Array VISIONS'15 expedition. Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington.

A line of shallow winched profilers and instrumented platform interface assemblies await installation on  2-legged Shallow Profiler Moorings that provide real-time data on chemical, biological, and physical properties of ocean waters off the coast of Oregon. Credit. Deb Kelley, University of Washington, V15.

VISIONS'15 students learn how to make measurements of dissolved oxygen in seawater taken at depths of 1000 m beneath the ocean's surface during Leg 1. Credit: Debbie Kelley, University of Washington.

Diana samples seawater from depths of up to 1000 m beneath the ocean's surface during the VISIONS'15 cruise. Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington.

Kadijah learns how to do titration analyses of dissolved oxygen in fluids from up to 1000 m water depth on the VISIONS'15 cruise. Credit: Deb Kelley, University of Washington.

Kearstin in chemistry lab learning how to do dissolved oxygen analyses. Credit: Deb Kelley, University of Washington, V15.

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Jessie and Kadijah help prepare an instrument cable on a junction box, which provides power and communication to a variety of chemical and biological sensors that will provide live streaming data to shore from 2900 m water depth (over 10,000 ft beneath the ocean's waves). Credit: Lauren Kowalski, University of Washington.

Katie smiles - It is good to be back out at sea onboard the R/V Thompson on the VISIONS'15 expedition. Credit: Lauren Kowalski, University of Washington.

Jessica stands next to the R/V Thompson just before she pulls away from the dock to begin the Cabled Array VISIONS'15 Expedition. Credit: Jessica Noe, University of Washington.

Diana successfully gets into a survivial suit during safety training on the first day of the Cabled Array VISIONS15 expedition. Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington, V15.

A beautiful sunset on July 4th greated the R/V Thompson as she sailed through the Straits of Juan de Fuca on July 4th, 2015. Credit: Lauren Kowalski, University of Washington.

Mt Rainer stood out beautifully on July 4th as the R/V Thompson steamed through Puget Sound. We will not see her again until August 7, when we return to Seattle. Credit: Ed McNichol.

The R/V Thompson awaits opening of the  Ballard Locks early in the morning of July 4, 2015. Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington.