Exploration Note Summary:

Invite your students to join a deep-sea expedition to the heart of the Pacific with this first-person account from ecologist Steve Auscavitch. This reading follows the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s journey to the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA), where researchers investigated the immense biodiversity of underwater seamounts at depths of up to 3,000 meters. Students will gain insight into the daily life of a deep-sea scientist and the advanced technologies used to study remote ecosystems, such as the ROV SuBastian and environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis. By exploring real-world phenomena like corallivory—where deep-sea predators feed on coral tissue—this resource provides a compelling narrative for lessons on marine biology, ecological mapping, and the importance of ocean conservation.

Download this engaging primary-source reading to help your students see how modern science uncovers the “oases of life” hidden in our deepest oceans.