On Oct. 28, 2024, an ocean exploration expedition named Lebuu’s Voyage set sail aboard Ocean Exploration Trust’s (OET) Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus to explore deep-sea habitats within Euotelel a Klingil a Debel Belau, the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS). Eleven local scientists, educators, cultural liaisons and early career professionals are part of this interdisciplinary expedition team led by Ocean Exploration Trust in close partnership with the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) and NOAA Ocean Exploration.  

Over the next three weeks, two back-to-back expeditions will gather seafloor mapping data and explore the seafloor with remotely operated vehicles to illuminate deep-sea habitats around Palau. These expeditions are funded by NOAA Ocean Exploration via the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute as the first step in fulfilling the U.S. Government commitment made at the 7th Our Ocean Conference to support ocean mapping of the PNMS and are part of its “Beyond the Blue: Illuminating the Pacific” campaign. All data gathered will be provided to the Palauan government and PICRC to support and enable additional follow-on exploration and management activities to better understand and care for the ocean.