Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 2003: Monk Seal

In 2003, scientists completed a 64-day cruise to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands onboard the University of Hawaii’s Research Vessel Ka’imikai-o-Kanaloa, using the Pisces IV and V submersibles. They studied the region’s virtually unexplored deep-sea corals, submarine canyons, and seamounts. One objective of the expedition was to learn how endangered Hawaiian monk seals use shallow and deep-water habitats for hunting and protection. When scientists dove to a deep-sea coral bed, they were shocked to see an e