The five-year Sustainable Seas Expeditions program, sponsored by the National Geographic Society and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is focusing on 12 U.S. marine sanctuaries. One goal is to provide baseline data on the state of the ocean environment to gauge whether human or natural changes will occur and to help shape policies, Earle said. The scientists are identifying places to establish monitoring stations or underwater observatories for long-term assessment of the sanctuaries, she said. Oceanographers hope the site will become a deep-water marine preserve. An acoustic listening post is proposed in the water off Kona to follow the comings and goings of whales, she said.
Oceanographers hope to determine why whales tend to concentrate in some areas and shun others.
Diving in Deepworker 2000 submersibles leased from Hawaii-based American Deepwater Engineering, Grigg and Earle looked at one of the most heavily harvested black coral areas. It's not diminished at all from levels before harvesting took place. He said they saw about 150 colonies in the proposed reserve. Grigg said he made three dives in the Deepworker for training, and three for science. First of all, you're all alone.