Underwater expedition aims to unravel mysteries of the Maldives

(CNN) — Think “Maldives” and the first images that come to mind are rows of luxury villas over the water jutting out from long wooden docks, or beautiful beaches fringed by stunning white sand.

But despite the Maldives being one of the world’s most coveted vacation destinations, not to mention a scuba diver’s dream destination, scientists say they still have a lot to learn about the underwater ecosystems.

Now the Maldivian government and Britain’s marine research institute Nekton have teamed up to unravel some of those mysteries by launching an ambitious expedition into the country’s virgin waters.

The Nekton Maldives Mission, which kicks off on Sept. 4 and includes teams of scientists from the Maldives and abroad, plans to conduct extensive research below 100 feet using two high-tech submersibles – one of which can reach as high as 1,000 feet. can go deep.

The goal is to help the Maldives manage the effects of the global climate crisis.

“The Maldives is 99% ocean and only 1% land, and is on average 1.5 meters above the sea. As a result, the country faces a growing threat from rising seas,” said a statement from Nekton.

“But, armed with more knowledge of what their waters contain, work can begin to protect what lives there and protect the environment these species inhabit, in turn making the land more resilient to climate change.”

The institute says 10 Maldivian marine scientists have been selected as the first “Maldivian Aquanauts” to lead more than 30 first dives in submarines to explore the depths of the land. The very first descent is led by an all-women team of aquanauts.

The Omega Seamaster 2 Submersible, seen here while exploring the waters of the Seychelles in 2019.

Nekton/AP

“We are determining the location, health and resilience of our coral reefs, especially the deeper ecosystems that we know very little about, so that important habitats can be identified for protection and management,” said Shafiya Naeem, director general of the Maldivian team. Maldives Marine Research Institute, in a statement.

“The reefs that surround our atolls help mitigate the effects of sea level rise and the increasing frequency and intensity of storms, and are the foundation of our economies, livelihoods and livelihoods.”

A 35-day mission

The RV Odyssey, an expedition vessel, will carry scientists from the Maldives, the UK, India and South Africa on the 35-day mission through the vast waters of the country.

The ship has two submarines, each of which can carry a pilot and two scientists. These will be used alongside robotic and autonomous systems and more than a dozen research technologies to collect data.

The newer of the two submersibles is the Aurelia, owned by REV Ocean, which completed extensive sea trials off the coast of Barcelona this summer and is now certified as the world’s most advanced vessel of its kind, Nekton said in the statement.

The Omega Seamaster 2 will be used to explore up to 500 meters below the surface.

Nekton/AP

The second submarine, the Omega Seamaster 2, is the same brand that was used on a Nekton mission to the Seychelles in 2019, where marine researchers found “dozens of new species and mapped the offshore waters previously uncharted under the 30 meters.”

The Aurelia will operate to a depth of 1,000 meters, while the Omega Seamaster 2 will be used to explore the first 500 meters below the surface.

As for what will take place during the 35-day mission, marine biologists, data scientists and film producers will collect species samples, conduct extensive mapping operations and film the condition of the corals around the Maldives.

The University of Oxford, which is part of the mission, says scientists will also examine how ocean life has adapted to historically rising sea levels caused by the melting of ice from the last Ice Age, and the “largely unknown and unprotected deep corals.” and reefs of the Rariphotic Zone”. , which act as a sanctuary for animals from shallower waters.”

They will also examine “the relative abundance of the 40 species of sharks and 18 rays at the top of the food chain in the Maldives ocean, which act as a critical indicator of ocean health,” it said in a statement.

One of the planned mapping operations is a survey of a seamount in the northern Indian Ocean.

According to Nekton, all collected samples and data remain the property of the Maldives — “a departure from some of the western-led scientific expeditions of the past.”

Support the development of sustainable tourism

So what does all this have to do with tourism in the Maldives?

Documenting the state of the country’s waters could support sustainable tourism development, says a Nekton mission briefing: “Reef health is fundamental to the two largest sectors of the Maldivian economy, tourism and fishing. Apart from the economic benefit the coral reefs provide, they are the first line of defense against waves and storms, which become more frequent and intense.”

Protecting the animal species that live there is also vital, as it “results in a healthier ocean, sustainable fisheries and supports tourism growth,” according to the mission briefing, noting that manta ray tourism alone is estimated to cost 15 million people. dollars per year in revenue.