Videographer Ben Fundis captures action on the fantail. (photo: Allison Fundis) 

ROCLS, the remotely operated cable laying system, stand ready on R/V Thompson's fantail to deploy the extension cable at primary node 1A. (photo: Allison Fundis) 

Graduate student Rick Berg, readies the Mosquito instrument that will be deployed at Hydrate Ridge to measure fluid flow out of and into the sedimented seafloor. (photo: Allison Fundis) 

Chief Scientist, John Delaney, updates the whiteboard that serves as the primary message center. It is affectioately nicknamed "The Board of Lies" due to continuously changing and shifting plans at sea. (photo: Allison Fundis) 

Co-chief Scientists, John Delaney and Deb Kelley enjoy a laugh (photo: Allison Fundis)

Students Julie Ann Koehlinger, Claire Knox (left to right), Owen Coyle, and Adrian Rembold (background) in the main lab during the transit out of Newport. (photo: Allison Fundis) 

Applied Physics Lab engineers Tim McGinnis, James Tilley, and Jesse Dosher look over deployment plans. (photo: Allison Fundis) 

Capt. Russ Devaney manuevers the Thompson out of Newport, OR to set sail for Leg 2. (photo: Allison Fundis)

Co-chief Scientist, Deb Kelley, enjoys the view as R/V Thompson sets sail for VISIONS'13 Leg 2. (photo: Allison Fundis)

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Einstein's Grotto as first seen in 2011 and then again in 2013 (credit: NSF/UW/CSSF)

Adrian Rembold

ROV Pilots in the control room, as we examine the black smoker known as Escargot. (photo: Judy Twedt)

Julie and Allison at the logging station in the control room, making meticulous records of the dive (photo: Judy Twedt)

Beginning a nearly mile long descent to the seafloor (photo: Judy Twedt)

Preparing to the ROPOS for the first dive (photo: Judy Twedt)

Buoys on the starboard walkway (photo: Judy Twedt)

Passing through the Ballard Locks (photo: Judy Twedt)

View of downtown Seattle from Lake Union during out departure. (photo: Judy Twedt)

Primary Node 1B will connect instruments at the summit of Southern Hydrate Ridge to the Ocean Observatories Initiative's cabled network. (credit: OOI/UW/CSSF)

Dense macrofaunal communities cover the actively venting black smoker edifice called El Guapo. Here, tube worms are covered with filamentous bacteria. Also in this area are blue ciliates, palm worms, and thick colonies of limpets.   Photo credit: OOI/UW/CSSF

Small 'chimlet' on the chimney Escargot in the International District hydrothermal field. Photo credit: OOI/UW/CSSF

Spare commissioning support hardware is plugged into Primary Node 3B while it is fully powered up from >350 miles away at Pacific City, Oregon. A tool basket on the left holds the hardware, as well as other equipment that may have been needed for testing. The manipulator arms of ROPOS are in the foreground, waiting for the test to be completed. Photo: OOI/UW/CSSF

A close up of the diverse ecosystems hydrothermal vents, such as El Guapo pictured here, support. (credit: OOI/UW/CSSF)

The top of the the Escargot Vent in the International District Hydrothermal Vent Field at Axial Seamount. (credit: OOI/UW/CSSF)

ROPOS pilots guide the robotic vehicle as it enters the water above Axial Volcano.