Going Deep: Preparing for our Bering Sea Ship Tour

Alaska fisheries managers recently responded to a proposal to protect some of the world's largest submarine canyons by saying 'yes, these are unique and diverse habitats, but we don't know enough to justify protecting them.' Ah, the precautionary approach we've all come to know and love! Our response is to pull together an expedition to document previously unexplored canyon habitats in hopes of making a legally and publicly compelling case for conservation of these important areas.

This never-before exploration will take place as part of our Bering Witness ship tour, in which our Esperanza returns to the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska.

Last week, the Esperanza was in a deep and quiet inlet several hours from Vancouver, Canada so that our sub pilots could test out and learn to pilot Deep Worker submarines. Deep Workers are one-person subs capable of diving to 2000 feet/600 meters. They are equipped with high definition cameras, HMI lights, sampling arms, SONAR, and radios that enable communication with the team up on the ship. They weigh about 2 tons each, and are smaller than a compact car so they don't take up much space on deck. Learn more about the subs.

Timo Marshall, one of the sub pilots, shares his experience. Read more.

Watch the video of the team testing out the submarines for the first time, and share in Timo's awe at seeing bioluminescent comb jellies at 1,000 feet below the surface in a Canadian fjord. Together with a team of scientists, we will next use these submarines to conduct the first direct exploration of the world's largest underwater canyon.

Dr. David E. Guggenheim, president of the recently-formed nonprofit organization, 1 Planet 1 Ocean, is a scientific advisor for our ship tour and also a sub pilot. Below are his photos from the training:

Along with the research planned for the canyons, we will be visiting the people of the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea. Learn more about this aspect of the tour from George Pletnikoff, our Alaska-based oceans campaigner. Read George's blog.

Stay tuned for updates, blogs, videos and more as our Bering Tour kicks off this summer.