Seascapes of Turks and Caicos

Inkfish Expeditions completed a series of expeditions to the Turks and Caicos.  The mission goals centred around exploration of mesophotic reef ecosystems — the transition zone between shallow coral reefs and the deep sea. Across three expedition legs, the cross-disciplinary team mapped the seafloor, captured detailed 3D models of coral habitats, and studied the biodiversity that thrives in these lesser-known depths. Together, these efforts aim to build a clearer picture of the reefs’ health and resilience across the Caribbean.

Kelpie’s Dr Alex Petrovic and Dr Nemi Walding sailed onboard the Inkfish Expedition to Turks and Caicos earlier this year. This trip included an important first in each of their careers: firsthand subsea observations onboard a research submersible.

“Observing the seafloor was an incredible experience,” Nemi says, “It was fascinating to observe a variety of rocks and geological features within a subsea environment.”

“It was an absolute, unique experience to be able to dive down into a submarine canyon system,” Alex says. “We geologists normally study bathymetry data–but seeing the environment live and then analysing the video footage from the dives will help us understand the erosional and transport processes in the canyon system even better.”

Stay tuned to learn about our findings!