MBARI
Search
Close

You might be interested in:

News

MBARI completes first ROV science dives from new flagship research vessel

News Brief

MBARI recently hosted biologists from the Monterey Bay Aquarium for a three-day expedition aboard our new flagship research vessel David Packard. Image: Kyra Schlining © 2025 MBARI

MBARI completes first ROV science dives from new flagship research vessel

This month marked a major milestone for MBARI’s new flagship research vessel David Packard. After months of work to integrate complex and custom systems to operate the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Doc Ricketts, MBARI’s marine operations team has now conducted the ship’s first ROV science dives.

Operated by pilots in a control room at the heart of the David Packard, ROV Doc Ricketts can dive up to 4,000 meters (approximately 2.5 miles) underwater. This robotic submersible has been a vital tool for MBARI’s research on marine life, ecosystems, and processes deep beneath the ocean’s surface, increasing our understanding of life in the midnight zone and on the abyssal seafloor.

After sea trials in early November and early December to test launch and recovery procedures and the ROV video recording process, MBARI’s first ROV science mission was a collaboration with our education and conservation partner, the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This three-day expedition to collect animals for the Aquarium’s Into the Deep / En lo Profundo exhibition afforded an opportunity to further refine ROV operations, including use of the vehicle’s manipulator arms and other advanced sampling systems.

An MBARI researcher with short gray hair and a gray beard wearing a black headset, navy blue polo, blue jeans, and tan slip-on shoes points to a wall of video monitors in the dark submersible control room of a research ship. The researcher is seated in a black leather chair with his legs up on a black plastic milk crate. In the background are two submersible pilots seated in chairs and operating submersible controls and a third submersible pilot holding a cup of coffee. The video monitors on the right side of the frame are displaying a live feed from a deep-sea submersible showing an array of clear plastic sampling canisters and a bright red jelly.
MBARI ships and technology have been critical to bringing rarely seen deep-sea animals to exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Image: Kyra Schlining © 2025 MBARI
Two submersible pilots tend to ropes while a crane out of frame deploys a robotic submersible. The pilot on the left is wearing a white hard hat, black headset, black sweatshirt, orange life vest, and brown pants. The pilot on the right is wearing a white hard hat, black headset, black sweatshirt, orange life vest, gray pants, and black shoes. They are standing inside the hangar on a research ship with open doors. Inside the hangar is assorted maritime equipment. Outside the hangar is a robotic submersible with a yellow float, silver metal frame, and black metal instruments, and a black plastic trunk. In the background is the ocean’s surface at sunrise with black water, dark blue sky, and red sunlight on the horizon.
Monterey Bay Aquarium biologists leveraged the expanded capabilities of the David Packard and ROV Doc Ricketts for animal collections. Image: Kyra Schlining © 2025 MBARI
A submersible pilot operates the robotic arm of a deep-sea submersible from the dark control room of a research ship. The pilot has long brown hair and is wearing glasses, a black headset, and a green jacket. She is seated at a desk with various controls on the counter. She is holding a jointed black metal arm and watching a video monitor displaying the silver metal robotic arm of a submersible as it grips a rock on the deep seafloor attached to a red coral.
MBARI’s skilled ROV pilots delicately collected corals and other deep-sea animals that are now on exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Image: Kyra Schlining © 2025 MBARI
Five members of MBARI’s marine operations crew discuss deployment of a scientific instrument from the gray metal deck of a research ship. The crew members are wearing white hard hats and orange life vests over their clothes. The instrument on deck has yellow floats, a silver metal frame, and a black plastic trunk. The background is black night sky.
An elevator developed by MBARI engineers allowed Monterey Bay Aquarium biologists to safely transport deep-sea animals to the surface. Image: Kyra Schlining © 2025 MBARI
A Monterey Bay Aquarium biologist examines a red deep-sea jelly in the lab aboard a research ship. The biologist has short blonde hair and is wearing an orange beanie cap, blue hooded sweatshirt, yellow vest, and black pants. She is leaning over looking at a clear plastic canister filled with water and a bulbous red comb jelly. On the right side of the frame is a black fiberglass frame with water hoses. In the background are white walls and windows looking out to black night sky.
MBARI’s partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium connects people with the wonders of the deep to inspire conservation of the ocean. Image: Kyra Schlining © 2025 MBARI

MBARI and the Monterey Bay Aquarium have a rich history of collaboration. We work closely together to introduce Aquarium visitors to the wonders of the deep sea and inspire stewardship of the largest living space on Earth. Into the Deep / En lo Profundo represents the most extensive collaboration between our two organizations. This groundbreaking exhibition opened in April 2022, showcasing rarely seen deep-sea animals and highlighting MBARI staff, research, and technology.

Aquarium biologists were able to take advantage of the expanded capabilities of the David Packard to explore waters farther offshore at Sur Ridge, a deep-sea coral garden teeming with life. The longer dives—up to 12 hours underwater—allowed the team to collect more animals, critical for a new Aquarium research project aiming to better understand the diet and growth of deep-sea comb jellies. The expedition also provided an opportunity to deploy an “elevator” developed by MBARI engineers that allows Aquarium biologists to safely stow deep-sea animals for transport to the surface.

“MBARI’s unique partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium is transforming ocean science and conservation,” said MBARI Senior Education and Research Specialist George Matsumoto, who oversees MBARI’s research collaborations with the Aquarium. “We hope meeting the amazing animals of the deep face to face helps inspire a new generation of ocean explorers.”

This important milestone for MBARI’s new flagship vessel follows successful missions to map the seafloor offshore of Oregon and monitor the health of Monterey Bay.

Follow MBARI on social media for the latest updates on expeditions aboard the David Packard.

For additional information or images relating to this article, please email pressroom@mbari.org.

More News