Science and Research


Expedition to Papahānaumokuākea yields more Incredible Discoveries – Images

Rare species at a depth of 300 feet at Kure Atoll in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
Rare species at a depth of 300 feet at Kure Atoll in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Left: a new species of wrasse (family Suezichthys). Center: unidentified species of sea urchin. Right: Struhsaker’s damselfish (Chromis struhsakeri), never before seen by divers (this species of fish was previously known only from deep trawls and submersible observations). Credit: NOAA and Richard Pyle/Bishop Museum
A high-endemism reef fish community at 300 feet on Kure Atoll inside Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
A high-endemism reef fish community at 300 feet on Kure Atoll inside Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Every fish in the picture is a Hawaiian endemic species (not known from anywhere else except Hawaiʻi). Credit: NOAA and Richard Pyle/Bishop Museum
A new species of seahorse collected by NOAA scientists at 300 feet on Pioneer Bank inside Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
A new species of seahorse collected by NOAA scientists at 300 feet on Pioneer Bank inside Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Credit: Brian Hauk/NOAA
A sea star not previously recorded from Hawaiʻi.
A sea star not previously recorded from Hawaiʻi. Credit: NOAA and Robert Whitton/Bishop Museum
NOAA scientist Brian Hauk and Bishop Museum scientist Richard Pyle descend to a reef at 300 feet on Pioneer Bank, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
NOAA scientist Brian Hauk and Bishop Museum scientist Richard Pyle descend to a reef at 300 feet on Pioneer Bank, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Credit: NOAA and Robert Whitton/Bishop Museum
A new species of dragonet fish collected by NOAA scientists at 300 feet, Pioneer Bank, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
A new species of dragonet fish collected by NOAA scientists at 300 feet, Pioneer Bank, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Credit: NOAA and Robert Whitton/Bishop Museum
An unidentified red algae photographed at 290 feet, Pioneer Bank, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
An unidentified red algae photographed at 290 feet, Pioneer Bank, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. It may represent a new record for the Hawaiian Islands (not recorded here before), or possibly a completely new species previously unknown to science. Credit: NOAA and Richard Pyle/Bishop Museum
A curious Galapagos shark approaches NOAA scientist Dr. Randall Kosaki and team as they slowly decompress on their way to the surface from a 300 foot dive at Pioneer Bank, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
A curious Galapagos shark approaches NOAA scientist Dr. Randall Kosaki and team as they slowly decompress on their way to the surface from a 300 foot dive at Pioneer Bank, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Credit: NOAA and Richard Pyle/Bishop Museum
The sea moth (<em>Pegasus papilio</em>), a fish rarely seen by divers, photographed at 290 feet, Pioneer Bank, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
The sea moth (Pegasus papilio), a fish rarely seen by divers, photographed at 290 feet, Pioneer Bank, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Credit: NOAA and Robert Whitton/Bishop Museum.
NOAA scientist Dr. Randall Kosaki holds up a plastic bag containing just-collected, live specimens of probable new species of seahorse (<em>Hippocampus</em> sp.) and dragonet fish (<em>Synchiropus</em> sp.) at 290 feet, Pioneer Bank, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
NOAA scientist Dr. Randall Kosaki holds up a plastic bag containing just-collected, live specimens of probable new species of seahorse (Hippocampus sp.) and dragonet fish (Synchiropus sp.) at 290 feet, Pioneer Bank, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Credit: NOAA and Richard Pyle/Bishop Museum
A new species of seahorse collected by NOAA scientists at 300 feet, Pioneer Bank, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
A new species of seahorse collected by NOAA scientists at 300 feet, Pioneer Bank, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Credit: NOAA and Robert Whitton/Bishop Museum
Divers Alert Network researcher monitoring diver’s heart after a deep dive.
Divers Alert Network researcher monitoring diver’s heart after a deep dive. Credit: Jason Leonard/NOAA





Co Trustees

NOAA logo Fish and Wildlife Service logo State of Hawaii seal OHA logo

World Heritage

UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Big Ocean

UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Contact Us
Link Disclaimer
User Survey
Privacy Policy		 PMNM Webmaster
Web site owner: National Ocean Service
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Main Office: NOAA/Daniel K. Inouye Regional Center
NOS/ONMS/PMNM, 1845 Wasp Blvd, Building 176
Honolulu, HI 96818 | Phone: 808-725-5800 | Fax: 808-455-3093